When it comes to frontline health workers battling COVID-19, there are unsung heroes everywhere—including the Somali Peninsula. But luckily, this year’s Thank-a-Thon allows us to show these tremendous teammates that we see them—that the work they do is so critical.
From the start of COVID-19, health teams operating maternity and pediatric hospitals in the city of Kismayo were supported by the water, sanitation and hygiene team to keep the water flowing. Protection teams and the entire operations team worked around the clock to provide critical health information and put the prevention awareness campaign into action.
The result was proof of the indelible strength of the human spirit, especially when it comes to a seemingly insurmountable challenge—the case rates in the Somali Peninsula remained relatively low.
“I am glad that we had very minimal infections and deaths due to COVID-19,” said Jamad Osman Hersi, a midwife at the Bulo Abliko hospital. In the Kismayo region, where Jamad works, there were 277 total confirmed cases and 13 deaths. “We gathered what material, knowledge, and resilience we had to fight the pandemic.”
After many months of giving it their all, and meeting with great success, the whole of the Somali Peninsula team wanted to recognize these unsung heroes and take a moment to rest—if even for a short while.
So they organized a day of celebration and thanks for the frontline COVID-19 workers, showering them with a big CONGRATS and a certificate of their immense appreciation.
“We were simply there to do our work,” said Hibo Hassan Sulub, a head nurse at Bulo Abliko hospital in Kismayo. “Being recognized for he routine work we do every day feels incredibly satisfying. It really validates the efforts from our teams.”
