HOOYO!

I just wanted to take this time out and say.... I love my mommy!! I just hope everyone understands how important a mother is!! I thank Allah (swt) for putting her in this world.

If you guys love your moms as well. Go to her and give her the biggest hug in the world and a kiss. If she asks what this is for? Just smile and say i love you!! Just watch how much dua she makes for you!

I wish one day my future daughter would be at least half of the caring, compassionate, empathetic, beautifully souled woman my mother is.💙

My mother is the most beautiful, caring, the most patient, selfless, kind, friendly, hard-working, supportive and sweet hearted woman in this dunya/World and I  don't know what I'd do without her.

 I'm so privileged to have such a mother.

She was/Is/will be the only person I admire the most and i couldn't ask for anyone better!

No place is safer and warmer than between a mom`s arms. May Allah bless our mothers and bring happiness to their lives (both dunya and akhira) and may they be happy about us (their children) , and May Allah bless us with being obedient and loving kids , Ameen.And for our sisters and brothers whom lost their mothers i say , May Allah give you sabr , you can still do acts of "bir" to your mom by giving charity and praying for her in your prayers. 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

 

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Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

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Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

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Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

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Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

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Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

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Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

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Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

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Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

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Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

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Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

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Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

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Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

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Article 14.

(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

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Article 15.

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

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Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

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Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

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Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

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Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

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Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

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Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

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Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

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Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

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Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

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Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

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Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

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Article 27.

(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

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Article 28.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

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Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

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Article 30.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

 

 

Who’s that knocking on Turkey’s door in Somalia?

Had the latest attack that targeted the Turkish embassy in the Somali capital of Mogadishu achieved its desired damage, losses would have been far higher than they were. The vigilance of the guards, who killed some of the attackers before they could detonate their explosives, prevented their plan to take out Turkish diplomats and security figures. It would have been the largest such attack to date.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabab movement released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. In it, the group justified targeting Turkey because its policy of “supporting the apostate regime [in Somalia] and seeking to suppress the Shari’a order.”

We were about to accept this scenario, which is considered logical given that Turkey—especially over the last five years—has increased its reconstruction, development and humanitarian projects, which extend far beyond Somali borders. Turkish embassies have become active missions that work around the clock to block such organizations from finding supporters, according to the Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

We were also about to believe that the attack was the price paid by Turkey and many other countries for going to Somalia and trying to provide peace between warring groups and end the lengthy civil war. These countries, however, abandoned Somalia amid a political and security vacuum, competing to take a piece of the African pie under international cover and direct intervention of the regional and international organizations as well as military and security presence there.

However, Ankara’s direct accusations of international powers infuriated by Turkey’s involvement in Somalia—an activity that has reversed the traditional considerations in the horn of Africa—have directed attention towards another scenario. This scenario is directly related to new regional players in this region.

In fact, this region contains the world’s most strategic waterways and perhaps what adds to its value and importance is the discovery of oil and precious metals. Davutoglu’s statements regarding the role played by some international powers in the attack leads us to a new conviction about the attack and the reasons behind it. In fact, it prompted us to entertain a number of possibilities, by viewing the attack as an attempt on the part of some sides—whose influence has receded and interests threatened by Turkey—to settle scores with Ankara.

Turkish political and security analysts dramatically took us back to the starting line by talking about those responsible and their interests in carrying out such an attack. This time, we were told that internal and external forces were conspiring against Erdoğan’s government and wanted to exclude Islamists from power. This was in the framework of a comprehensive plan, that had been developed, funded, and then carried out by Al-Shabab for the conspirators’ advantage.

A few days ago, the Greek Navy intercepted an inflatable boat transporting weapons and explosives to Turkey. Those detained confessed to preparing a campaign of assassinations of senior politicians and officials. This strengthened the argument that forces inside and outside of Turkey were behind the Mogadishu plot.

But the most likely possibility remains that Turkey is paying the price for changing its policy and attitudes towards extremist organizations that have obtained services and facilities, disregarding the movements on the Syria-Turkey border. Ankara and its allies are involved in more than politics and diplomacy with those that are against them. These forces wanted to warn Erdoğan’s government from any attempts to block their important supplies, and that any attempt to make new alliances in Syria should take them into consideration.

The message from Mogadishu reminded Turks of the bombings in Istanbul nearly a decade ago, carried out by Al-Qaeda. It also reminded them that Ankara cannot trust or be involved with these groups, which refuse partnership with any party unless it sets the terms and conditions. Moreover, that Salih Muslim Muhammed, the secretary-general of the Democratic Union Party, and Turkey’s arch enemy, has been welcomed by Syria will not be accepted even if Ankara had to prioritize fighting Kurds in Syria over fighting the Syrian regime.

by Samir Salha

Tix yar !

Labo isu kay qaban wayday!

Waa labo nin oo odayaal ah, waxaa la soo fadhiisiyay mid ka mida TV-yada Soomaalida, Daadihiyihii dooddooda dhex dhexaadinayay labadii nin midkood wuxuu ku sheegay innuu haysto shahaado heer injineernimo (Engineer), halka kan kalana uu ku sheegay innuu haysto shahaadada loo yaqaan PhD (Doctor of Philosophy/Doctoral degree). Wuxu kaloo wariyihu nagu war-geliyay labadooduba innay shahaadooyinka ka soo qaateen jaamacado ku yaala Yurub iyo Maraykan. Jacayl aan u qabay aqoon-kororsi owgii sow shaah ummaan soo qaadan. Hadday dooddii bilaabatay oo aan dooddoodii dhagaystay, tittle-ladii waaweenaa ee ay wateen iyo waxaa isku kay qaban wayday hadalladoodii. Si kale kuma garatide, labadii "aqoon-yahan" Waxaan uun idiinku suurayn karaa innay igu noqdeen labo nin oo xagga ashahaadada marka laga eego cul culus, mug iyo miisaanba leh, laakiin marka laga eego xagga haybadda iyo qiimaha cilmigu uu qofka u yeelo aan dadka caadiga ah iyo mooryaanta qabiilka ka ganacsata aan waxba dhaamin. Mar waxaan is idhi, malaha raggu aqoonta lagu sheegayaba ma lahee dadkaa TV-ga lagu soo fadhiisinayay. Mar kale waxaan is idhi, malaha wariyihu lama ogayne darajo beena bay u sheegteen. Mar kale waxaan is idhi, malaha shahaadooyinku waa rune cilmigoodaan caloosha dhaafsiisnayn. Yaan hadal idinku daaline, filan-waa owgii, waxan uun is arkay anigoon is ogayn oo haddan si hoose ula sheekaysanaya naftayda, kuna cel celinaya ereyadan hoose

Illen aqoon-yahanimadu maaha

Ammaaniyo magac la sheegto

Ashahaado la qaato maaha

Uma baahna anaa saasa

Iyo iibsiga suudhkiyo tayga

Cilmigu isagaa hadlooda

Qofkuu uurka u buuxo

Kolkuu odhaah yidhaahdo

Dhagtii maqashaa ogaata

Inuu dhaansaday aqoon.

By: Mubarak Hadi

Rajo - Hope

Mar kastoo aan ka fekero xaalka uu dalkeena hooyo maanta ku sugan yahay quus baa i taabata, markaasay darruur murugo i dul heehaabtaa. Cabbaar yar kadib baa waxaa ii muuqda dhalinyaro Soomaaliyeed oo fara badan, daafaha caalamkana ku kala nool oo xiddigo la moodo iyo kaah iftiin badan oo kasoo baxaya god madow habeen gudcura, markaasaa darruurtii muragada layga dul faydaa.

Dabayl soo socotiyo

Rajo soo muuqataan

Saadaasheeda arkaa — feeling hopeful.

Saddax!

Saddex waa gar, saddexna waa gardarro, saddexna waa galabsigood.

1. Nin ehelkaaya innaad wax u doonatid waa gar, haddaadse ogtahay inuu bakhayl yahay oo aad wax u doonatid waa gardarro, inuu kuu diidana waa galabsigaa

2. Reer innuu guuraa waa gar, sahan la'aan innuu guuraase waa gardarro, guri abaara ama guri colaadeed innay degaana waa galabsidood

3. Gabadh in gayaankeed usoo geed fadhiisto waa gar, in loo diido waa gardarro, innay guumowdo ama garacatana waa galabsigood.

Essential Question

Becoming British? What does it mean to be British?

Assimilation: Does a person have to give up part of his/her culture to become more British?

Words to look for

culture

generation

Background Information

There is often a generation gap between younger immigrants and older generations once they settle in the U.K Young people adapt to British culture more easily, while older immigrants try to hold onto their traditional culture. Young people generally speak English more quickly and fluently, while elders often struggle to learn a new language. Somali young people are surrounded by British  students at school and are quick to pick up on how British, talk, act, and think. Elders might work outside the home, but are usually more isolated and tend to stick to their traditional ways.  Sometimes parents are dismayed when their own children start to ignore Somali beliefs and culture, and instead behave in ways that would be unacceptable in Somalia. Young people are more likely to see themselves as British, while elders are generally more hopeful that they will be able to return to Somalia some day.

There is no deal and discussion to Socotra Island; it is part of Somali Territorial Islands.

Yemen in recent years is the pressure to legitimize the island of Socotra, Somalia, and on the way for the deployment of the project and the military on the island of Socotra Somalis. Yemen resulted in Socotra, that providing false information and, is struggling to dominate the island which one of the East Africa country. Failure would be any trail to the island from Yemen to view any aspect of the regulation of Yemen

Socotra is the heart of Somalia allows the Socotra archipelago is part of Somalia, and we are really on the request of the United Nations to determine the status of the archipelago. Socotra is strategic, and this means a lot to Somalia.

To destabilize the country , Yemen unstable government with full of weapons is going to the Horn of Africa, and create a problem of issue on archipelago between the east Africa and the Middle East. The military regime is trying to support military weapon in Somalia, trying to get the worst and fueling the fire of the disaster which is happening in Somalia, through the sale of weapons and break the siege imposed United Nations on Somalia. Yemen is a state that controls the militias, diminished corruption, any type of drugs, and sentenced by the Council of Elders in any region, city of the state.

Yemen has no right to claim, to rule and administration to the island of Socotra, which lies about 160 km from the coast of Somalia, which is located within our territory in the maritime border of the right.

‘And demands that Yemen does not have any sense, reference is unprecedented and dangerous any time. Yemen is going to take advantage of the conflict in Somalia, but is an attempt to dispute one of the territories of our country, which justifies the existence of artificial date and attempt to provide false information to the United Nations.

Usually, people go anywhere at the present time and past also, and monitor the various means of transportation as human civilized up, cause a great migration of people transfer a different place, as well as any one can reach in this world through sailors on boats and Vessels. Yemen and other Arabs come to East Africa in/with different ways, for preaching of the Islamic faith, business, and personal immigration by searching for a better life. Because of the Arabian Peninsula usually very bad poor people in hundreds of thousands of years before oil drilling in a few decades ago.

It also allows us the truth of the matter in the past, and we became a center for Arabic to welcome to East Africa, to came our land and share our life, and we end up something like this, because they were Muslims, we are proud of the faith, and we look at the Muslim Brotherhood.

Yemen now is to try to change reality, and an attempt to destabilize the continent and create a very serious discussion between the communities, countries. We Somali Community, and the Senate, scholars and activists, locally, regionally and internationally, and we will prevent any kind or steps to dispute to our archipelago, “Socotra.” We do not have a deal or talk to provide a platform of discussion because it is our island. There is nothing to hold talks with the current table, and discuss the two countries.

Socotra is a part of Somalia, which is part of the Bari region of Puntland Regional State. Yemen does not have any option to claim that the island of Socotra. Do not do exactly a dream that can’t be supported you any more and lead you nothing at all. And independently, there must be respect for each and every one of us, Yemen and Somalia. We will not claim in any place in Yemen, and we do not have any legal rights for that, and so Yemen must be respected our autonomy and stop the segmentation of Somali Nation, as we did to Yemen.

Unchained Minds: Somalis Mental Health State.

The past and present capacity:

by Farhia Ali Abdi

Sunday, August 11, 2013

“Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It's the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with” Adam Ant.

In this photo, chained mentally ill patients sit within a mental health center in Mogadishu, Somalia. Source: The Hindu

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The past and present capacity:

Given the Somalia political and economic turmoil suffered during the civil war, the country’s mental health system collapsed, and mental health disorder became rampant across the country.  To date, government in Somalia does not have an official mental health plan of action to combat mental illness, rebuild facilities, and grant funding to support programs. The apparent lack of medicine, and adequately trained staff and professionals have forced families, and mental health centers to chain their patients to beds or rocks as it shows in the picture above, leaving them with permanent trauma and physical injuries.

World Health Organization (WHO) indicated in their recent study of Somalia’s mental health care that people with mental illness in Somalia face degrading and dangerous cultural practices such as being restrained with chains, which are not only widespread, but also socially and culturally accepted.  WHO further expressed that Somalia has one of the world highest rates of mental-health disorder. Approximately, one-third of its eight million Somalis are affected by some kind of mental disorder, yet there are only three trained psychiatrists in the entire country who specialize in mental illness. Psychiatry as a profession is heavily stigmatized in Somalia by both the general public and the medical community. Healing for mental problems is provided by religious leaders or by traditional healers, and it has become an ineffective method in the current Somalia society.

Historical Context:

The country established a health care system after its independence in the 1960s; however, in the 1970s, there were few noticeable achievements with the military regime run health care system such as the creation of medical schools in Mogadishu and in Hargeisa (Nursing). Nonetheless, problems within the country’s meager national health care system were exacerbated by the state’s collapse in 1991. At this time, the healthcare system suffered a major setback and forced many Somalis to go without proper health care.

In a conceptual framework, Somali culture considers mental health as one is either “crazy or not crazy." There is no assortment of health and disease, mental health and mental illness.   People’s beliefs and understanding of mental illness are predominately spiritual and metaphysical: mental illness comes from evil spirits; it can be brought on by another person or oneself through curses or bad behavior. These beliefs, coupled with the lack of a strong plan on mental health in the government at the federal, regional, and local levels, deepen the country’s mental health crisis.  According to, a 2010 World Health Organization report: “A Situation Analysis of Mental Health in Somalia," medical education and training of health professionals is a key issue for the health sector as a whole. There are no medical institutes, universities and schools that have an internationally recognized and standardized curriculum. The only exception is the Nursing School in Hargeisa, recognized by WHO. They further noted that, there is one private medical school in Gaalkacyo, the Gaalkacyo University, which started in 2006, the first basic training program for Assistant Physicians (three-year course). In the South, the Benadir School covers the whole South-Central Zone. Aside from Somaliland, there has been no effort to introduce curriculum focused on mental health curriculum into the basic teaching package. The lack of resources, including, medical equipment, and administer medications and treat emerging high rates of trauma-related disorders throughout the country, requires an urgent attention.

Contemporary Somali Society:

Since the aftermath of the civil war, there is an apparent change in the perceptions and stigma regarding mental health. The causes of mental illness are now understood as chemical imbalance rather than a bad spirit. Specialized mental health professionals in the diasporas and locals in Somalia brought a new approach of looking at mental illness diagnosis and treatments, and in so doing, reduce the barrier to seeking care. Their efforts are already making a huge difference in how people view mental health disorders and to seek information to improve their conditions. For example, in Mogadishu, there are few mental health facilities run by Abdirsaq Ali Habeeb. Mr. Habeeb is a Psychiatry Nurse by training and operates mental health centers to care for inpatients and outpatients with the support of NGOs such as the World Health Organization and other donors. Mr. Habeeb who is living in Mogadishu goes out to the streets of Mogadishu to find chained, mentally ill persons; he unchains them and brings them to his facilities for care, thus restoring their dignity. In Somaliland, there are similar public and private mental health centers with the same patient treatments and outcomes. These facilities are sustained by the support of few donors and NGOs such as the World Health Organizations (WHO). 

The new understanding of mental health illness in Somalia is partially due to the contribution from Somali diaspora professionals who are returning home.  Good example is the recent opening of Somalia Mental Health Foundation Centre in Puntland region by Dr. Abas M. Jama and his colleague Mr. Hassan M. Esse. Dr. Jama and his colleague Mr. Esse are Somali diaspora professionals and the founders of The Somalia Mental Health Foundation. Their foundation is a non-profit organization that provides services and guidance for people with mental health conditions. One of the program’s mandates is to develop adequate facilities with highly qualified mental health professionals for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, neurological and psycho-social disorder. Furthermore, the mandate states that the foundation is to set up mental health camps where psychiatric consultation and medicines are provided free-of-charge. What is unique about this particular organization is that, it is initiated and run by Somali diaspora professionals who decided to dedicate their time and effort to support other Somalis inside the country, and one that I hope others follow suit.

Dr. Jama is a well-respected Psychiatrist by training in the United States. He has a private practice in Sandusky, Ohio and specializes in adult psychiatry. He is a member of the Medical Staff of Firelands Regional Medical Center and Firelands Physician Group, Mercy Hospital in Lorain, Ohio and a member of the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Abas M. Jama in Somalia

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Dr. Jama recognizes the need to treat individuals who are suffering from mental illness in Somalia as a result of the prolonged civil war, and the absence of proper mental health centers to treat these individuals. Hence, Dr. Jama and his colleagues opened their first office in Qardha, Puntland, and are working their way throughout the country to treat mental illness. The facility is run by Abdiqani Abdullahi Askar who has a Bachelor of Nursing Degree and Medical Psychiatry Training Certificate. Since opening the clinic in 2011, Dr. Jama and Abdiqani have treated over 4000 patients and returned to the region twice to train nurses, educate patients and their family members, and dispense medication.

Dr. Jama’s vision in Somalia is to establish collaborative working relationships with the medical community and hospitals in Somalia in order to facilitate needed medical training to care for mentally ill patients.  The top priority for this year he said is to provide and develop educational training programs. To this end, Dr. Jama (The Somali Mental Health Foundation) in partnership with the existing Mental Health Centers in Somali such as Mr. Habeeb’s run facilities in Mogadishu will conduct a two-four week of educational course on mental illness to nurses, nurse practitioners, and aides who live in Mogadishu and the surrounding region. The training program will be offered in three different cities in Somalia. Moreover, as part of this course, Dr. Jama will train approximately 60-100 nurses and aids in Somalia in the effort to give the participants the necessary tools and knowledge desperately required to treat mental illness.

Somali Mental Health Foundation training event in Galkayo, Somalia - May 2013

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More than providing education, Dr. Jama and his colleagues are changing societal views on mental illness by helping to lessen the stigma surrounding mental illness in Somalia. By this, they are providing the platform for sufferers to seek needed medical care for their illness. In Puntland regions, the municipal officials are putting requests to Dr. Jama to train the hospital staff in order to care for patients. As seen from video clips on their website:http://somalimentalhealthfoundation.com/ people are lining up for treatments.  A recent interview on Somali TV, the Dr. and his colleague Mr. Esse expressed an overwhelming experience by the new patients who for the first time since their illnesses were released from their chains

Line up in front of the Somali Mental Health Foundation, Qardha Center. November 2011

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Though there are no monitoring oversight bodies except for the mental health institutions that regularly monitor patients at health facilities, this is a tremendous achievement on the onset of fighting mental illness in the country.

Advocacy and Public Education and Awareness

In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV, 2011, Mr. Habeeb who runs the Mental Health Centre in Mogadishu said, “I believe there is no one with good mental health in Mogadishu or in the entire South and Central Somalia because of what is going on. Normal people will not kill and maim their own, and for such a long time.” This is true for the entire country and there are dire needs for trained and educated professionals within the field of Mental Health and on the health field in general. The 2001 UN Development Programme's Human Development Report, ranked Somalia lowest in all health indicators except life expectancy. In its latest report, the country is not even ranked due to the lack of reliable data. Somalia needs human resources for medical health development who can deliver integrated primary health care services. The backbone of any health care system is the mental health and in order to maintain and encourage a culture in which respect and healing for the mentally ill are a priority, there needs to be an education.  The new concept of training medical practitioners as exemplified by Dr. Jama and his colleagues has been successful, and it should be considered as a viable strategy for treating mental illness in Somalia and enhancing community awareness of mental illness.

Due to the long neglect of mental health issues in Somalia, and the long-held beliefs on mental illness, the country needs Somali community organizations, and community health centers such as the one developed by Dr. Jama, Mr. Esse, and Mr. Habeeb. Somali led mental health treatment, and training is the best hope for Somalia. Dr. Jama’s actions will hopefully encourage other diaspora professionals to invest back to the country. The efforts of these professionals have led to many successes, and Somalia continues to benefit from their tireless efforts and much-needed expertise in establishing a comprehensive strategy for battling mental illness in Somalia. Creating community awareness and empowerment in the area of mental health is a key to treating the disease and with the training and support from the international NGO also, will position Somalis to further improve mental illness. The current Somali government also needs to encourage, support, and partner with Somali professionals with mental health expertise to create mutual support, conduct advocacy and influence the policy-making process in line with international human rights standards.

The way forward for mental health policy implementation is to.

·       Establish a centralized public health institution mandated in managing the Mental Health program and services in the country.

·       Integrate mental health into the primary health care services, so mental health care can be seen as an essential aspect of health care.

·       Create a clear, well communicated future vision for the healthcare system, and to consider mental health research findings that can be used most effectively in influencing the delivery of services.

·       Assist in capacity building on the community-level models of care that effectively involved in mental health treatment and delivery of services.

·       Support service providers and users alike to understand and promote human rights, recovery and rehabilitation of mental illness, and to recognize mental health as a crucial component of personal health.

·       Lastly, build and maintain a health care related database in the country.

Farhia Ali Abdi

guure@rogers.com