Jigjiga (Dawan Africa) – The Somali Region’s state media has reported a major medical milestone, announcing that advanced joint replacement surgeries were successfully conducted for the first time in the region on Friday.
According to Somali Region Television (SRTV), the procedures included knee, hip (pelvis), and tendon replacements, carried out at Sheikh Hassan Yabri Specialized Hospital in Jigjiga. The operations were part of a week-long medical campaign involving regional and international doctors, with support from the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination (TİKA). More than 30 patients were said to have benefited from the program.
SRTV noted that such surgeries are normally among the most costly and are typically performed only in Addis Ababa or abroad. For the first time, patients in the Somali Region received them free of charge.
Somali Region President Mustafa Mohamed Omar was quoted as thanking the medical team during his hospital visit:
“This move reinforces the bonds of brotherhood and affection that unite Ethiopia and Turkey, especially the Somali Region. May Allah reward you abundantly for this free humanitarian service you rendered to our society.”
State media highlighted that Sheikh Hassan Yabri Hospital has previously hosted international medical teams conducting advanced operations. Observers say the announcement reflects efforts to expand specialized healthcare services in the Somali Region, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the region for treatment.