Jan 11, 2012

Somaliland: Egypt Provides Treatment


Egypt’s medical assistance to Somiland strenghtens the ties between the countries. 

Below is an article published by Somaliland Press

A team of Seven Egyptian medics arrived in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, on Tuesday to provide treatment not available in the unrecognized nation.

The delegation which included Mr. Mohammad Al-Amir, Adviser at the Egyptian Embassy in Djibouti, were received at Egal International Airport by Dr. Hussein Mohamud Mohamed, Somaliland Health Minister and Mr. Mohamud Rage, the Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Egyptian medic team include urologists, cardiologists, Ophthalmologists, Orthopedists, pediatrics, surgeons and general doctors. During their ten day visit they will extend free medical help to hundreds of locals. They have brought with them medical supplies and their own equipment and will begin their humanitarian mission on Wednesday in Hargeisa’s General Hospital.

The visit follows a recent trip to Cairo by Somaliland Foreign affairs minister Mohamed Abdillahi Omar after receiving an official invitation from Egypt. Upon his return, Dr Omar emphasised that Somaliland and Egypt entered a new important stage in their bilateral relationship. He stated Egypt was ready to reverse a two decade-old policy that blocked Somaliland interest and was willing to establish ties. He added the Arab nation pledged to help Somaliland in the health, education and economy sectors.

As well as this medical mission, Egypt has offered Somaliland 24 teachers and is almost near completing an Islamic college in Hargeisa. The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Ali Gomaa has promised to provide more Islamic teachers and over 30,000 volumes of books.

Despite having relationship problems during President Hosni Mubarak’s rule in the last two decades, Somaliland and Egypt have had relations since ancient times. Somaliland once traded frankincense and myrrh with the powerful Ancient Egypt and in the 18th century Somaliland was administered by Ottoman Egypt.