By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
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MOGADISHU, 1 November 2026 — Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, also known as Ex-Digfeer, has added three state-of-the-art machines to its Pathology department — the first time the equipment has been brought to Somalia.
The machines are:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC), which distinguishes between types of cancer
- Frozen Section, used for rapid testing during surgery
- Liquid-based preparation, a modern method for preparing tissue samples
The Pathology department examines body tissues to diagnose disease.
Dr. Ismail Mahmoud Abdullahi, head of the hospital's Pathology department, said the IHC machine is vital for cancer treatment. It shows the exact type of cancer, helps doctors choose the right medication, and predicts the patient's future outlook.
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"We are very happy that it has been brought to Somalia for the first time," Dr. Ismail said.
The Frozen Section machine allows doctors to get results while the patient is still on the operating table. A small piece of tissue is taken and examined immediately.
The test shows whether cancer remains at the edges of the removed tissue. It also shows whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, as in breast cancer. These results determine how extensive the surgery needs to be.
Dr. Ismail said the machine is also important for children with Hirschsprung disease, a condition children are born with in which part of the intestine lacks the nerves that move it, causing severe constipation.
These children used to wait two to three weeks for their results from abroad. They now receive results within 20 minutes.
"It will reduce the many surgeries and the hardship patients faced," he said.
The equipment arrives at a time when cancer is a major challenge to Somali communities. Somalia does not have a national cancer registry. Data presented at the Somali Success Forum showed that 6,128 cancer cases were registered between 2023 and 2026. Cancer is the most common illness for which Somalis travel abroad for treatment.