9/15/2026
With support from donors in Qatar and in cooperation with Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Social Care and Well Care Specialized Hospital, Qatar Charity has launched the “Creating Smiles” initiative to provide free treatment to Somali patients with cleft lip and palate. The initiative offers essential surgical procedures and medical care, helping patients overcome the health and social challenges associated with these conditions.
The initiative targets 72 children and adults with congenital cleft lips and palate, who are set to undergo corrective surgery.
High Demand
At the initiative’s launch, Ms. Nasra Abdulsamad Mohamed, Director of the Oral and Dental Health Department at Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Care, thanked Qatar Charity, donors in Qatar and the management of Well Care Specialized Hospital for implementing the programme. She said patients had travelled from across the country to benefit from the initiative.
She said: “This initiative addresses a genuine need among many families who could not afford treatment for their children. We thank the donors in Qatar for their support, which has enabled patients to undergo specialized surgical procedures free of charge.” She added that the high demand reflects the scale of the need for such medical services, noting that the initiative enables patients to receive treatment and healthcare without placing a financial burden on their families.
For his part, Dr. Abdullah Farah Asir, Director General of Well Care Specialized Hospital, said the hospital was coordinating with Qatar Charity and the Ministry of Health and Social Care to perform the procedures. He explained that the initiative serves children and adults who have lived for years with the effects of these congenital conditions. Some admitted cases require specialized surgery, he added, and the medical teams have mobilized their resources to ensure that beneficiaries receive the necessary care in line with approved medical standards.
Thanks to Donors
Mr. Abdulfattah Adam Moalim, Director of Qatar Charity’s Somalia Office, also thanked donors in Qatar for funding the humanitarian medical initiative, stressing that their support enables dozens of patients to receive essential treatment and care.
He said the treatment pathway involves several stages, beginning with medical examinations and case assessments, followed by the required surgical procedures and post-operative follow-up, in coordination with the initiative’s partners.
He noted that medical teams have performed 23 procedures to date, while preparations are under way to complete the remaining operations and reach the target number of beneficiaries during the project’s current phase.
Ongoing Efforts
The “Creating Smiles” initiative is part of Qatar Charity’s broader efforts to support Somalia’s health sector. Over the past year, the organization implemented 24 health projects benefiting more than 143,000 people, at a total cost of approximately QAR 10 million. The projects included constructing and equipping health facilities, performing general and specialized surgeries, treating critical cases, supporting blindness-prevention programmes, and providing medical equipment and supplies. Together, these interventions helped strengthen healthcare services across several parts of Somalia.