Diphtheria Cases Skyrocket Amid Health Crisis

MOGADISHU - A shocking surge in diphtheria cases is sweeping through Somalia, fueled by a dire shortage of vaccines and slashes in U.S. aid, warn local health officials. This year alone, more than 1,600 cases have been reported, resulting in 87 tragic deaths. This marks a steep rise from 2024's totals of 838 cases and 56 deaths, according to Hussein Abdukar Muhidin, the director of Somalia's National Institute of Health.

Devastating Impact on Children

Diphtheria, a potentially deadly bacterial illness that mainly affects children, brings with it severe swelling, breathing difficulties, and fever. The disease is entirely preventable with a vaccine that has been available since the mid-20th century. Despite improvements in childhood vaccination rates over the last decade, there are still hundreds of thousands of children in Somalia who remain unprotected.

Take the heart-wrenching case of Deka Mohamed Ali, who fled violence in Ceeldheere only to have all four of her unvaccinated children fall ill with diphtheria. While her 9-year-old daughter pulled through, her 8-year-old son sadly did not survive. Two toddlers are currently fighting for their lives in a Mogadishu hospital.

Aid Cuts Lead to Health Care Collapse

Health Minister Ali Haji Adam lamented that the government's ability to obtain vaccines has been hampered by a global shortage, compounded by severe U.S. aid cuts. Once the leading humanitarian supporter of Somalia, the U.S. has slashed its foreign assistance commitment by almost 80% this fiscal year, dropping from $765 million to just $149 million. This has devastatingly impacted health care funding.

"The effects of U.S. aid cuts have been catastrophic, leading to the closure of numerous health centers and the cessation of mobile vaccination teams that served remote areas," Adam stated.

Growing Health Crisis and International Response

Warnings have come from aid organizations like Save the Children, highlighting that the closure of health clinics amid the aid reductions has coincided with a doubling of cases of diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, cholera, and severe respiratory infections.

As critics target the Somali government’s budget priorities—allocating only 4.8% of its budget to health in 2024, down from 8.5% the previous year—concerns mount over the future of health care in the nation. The government's silence on these criticisms raises further alarm.

A Nation in Need of Urgent Aid

The U.S. State Department has reiterated its commitment to providing lifesaving foreign assistance but acknowledges that budget cuts are inevitable. Meanwhile, nations like Britain, France, and Germany are also tightening their aid belts.

As Somalia grapples with this dire public health crisis, the need for urgent international action and support has never been more critical. Will the global community step up to help save lives and restore hope in one of the world's most vulnerable regions?