Mogadishu (HO) - Somalia’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare,Dr. Ali Haji Aden, on Sunday faced questioning from the Parliamentary Committee on Social Services regarding the October 26 incident at Banadir Hospital, where a woman reportedly gave birth at the hospital gate after being denied admission while in labor.
During the session, Minister Aden detailed the case to lawmakers and outlined Banadir Hospital’s services, including maternal and child healthcare, general medicine, emergency response, malnutrition treatment, and care for HIV and cancer patients. He identified staff shortages relative to patient volume as a key factor contributing to service delivery delays.
Following the briefing,the Committee conducted an oversight visit to Banadir Maternity and Children’s Hospital,touring departments and speaking with patients. Committee chairperson hon. Nadra Salah Abdi affirmed continued oversight of the Banadir Hospital case and the performance of public hospitals nationwide.
The Ministry announced on Friday the appointment of Abdirisaaq Sharif Ali as the new Director General of Banadir Maternity and Child Hospital. Several staff members on duty during the october 26 incident have been suspended pending the outcome of an autonomous investigation, with further administrative changes anticipated to enhance accountability and openness.
The incident, which sparked national outrage after witnesses reported the woman was turned away in active labor and delivered with the assistance of a passerby, remains under formal government investigation. Both the mother and newborn were reported to be in critical condition. The case has fueled public calls for systemic reform within somalia’s healthcare system, which has long struggled with mismanagement, underfunding, and resource limitations.