Reviving De Martino Public Hospital: A Roadmap to Sustainable, High-Quality Care in Times of Crisis.
“Sustaining Essential Healthcare in the Face of Compounding Crises”
After five years of steadfast leadership at De Martino Public Hospital a national institution entrusted to me during a time of significant uncertainty I find myself reflecting not only on the journey of this hospital, but on the resilience of a vision tested by adversity and refined through necessity.
When I assumed leadership, De Martino operated with just 20 beds, constrained by limited infrastructure, skeletal staff, and financial fragility. Today, through deliberate expansion and collective sacrifice, we have grown into a 300-bed facility, nationally recognized as the primary referral and emergency response hospital in Somalia. This transformation, however, did not occur in ideal conditions it emerged through a crucible of persistent hardship, interrupted funding, a workforce often without contracts or formal protections, and the painful proximity of project failure.
Today, De Martino stands as a cornerstone of the Somali healthcare system. It has transcended its role as a mere hospital to become a national sanctuary. It is the nation’s primary tertiary referral center for the most complex medical cases, a refuge for the vulnerable, and the sole public-sector pandemic response center, which managed over 32,000 COVID-19 cases during the recent global health crisis. It is here that we provide critical care for the national army, treat the devastating injuries of war and conflict, and fulfill our national obligation to respond to the gravest health emergencies.
This unfunded mandate has placed an extraordinary strain on our resources, creating a persistent disconnect between our critical responsibilities and the financial support allocated to us.
This volume chronicles the rich history of De Martino Public Hospital Somalia’s oldest and largest public medical center and the unforgettable partnership with the Ministry of Health that has enabled its transformation into a true national referral hub.
Here you will read how our hospital has stood as a sanctuary for the gravely ill, a frontline responder to every infectious outbreak, and a lifesaving resource for our national army and civilians wounded by conflict. Beyond clinical care, we have hosted ministry programs, trained future generations of nurses and clinical officers, and upheld our solemn obligation to deliver equitable, high-quality services to every Somali citizen.
Within these pages, you will find not only an honest appraisal of the crises we have faced—but also practical recommendations drawn from hard-won experience. My hope is that this book serves as both a blueprint for sustainable hospital management in fragile settings and a lasting legacy for those who follow. May our story inspire others to confront challenges with courage, to innovate under pressure, and to recommit to the enduring mission of safeguarding health, even in the most trying times.
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