Somalia has conducted "for the first time" a hearing implant surgery

Somalia has recently conducted what is said to be the first hearing implant surgery for patients with hearing disabilities.

This surgery, carried out on October 23, 2026, at the Shaafi Hospital in Mogadishu, was performed on patients aged 9 and 22 years.

The procedure involves implanting electronic devices inside the ear, which help individuals with severe hearing loss to hear.

Dr. Ismaaciil Maxamed Cali, a specialist in ear, nose, and throat diseases and surgeries who performed the surgery, told the BBC that these patients were completely unable to hear at all when the surgery was performed.

"It is a one-time surgery, not one that requires multiple procedures. Afterward, the patient will need speech training and adaptation to the device," he said.

He mentioned that these patients will return to the hospital within two weeks to monitor their condition and provide the necessary training services.

"This surgery does not have any problems; the person is being helped to hear," he added.

The doctor urged parents to take their hearing-impaired children to hospitals early, so that their condition can be addressed promptly.

On the other hand, a press release issued by the hospital today stated that "this new service opens up opportunities for improving the treatment of people with hearing impairments in Somalia, some of whom had to seek medical care abroad."

The hospital has stated that prior to this surgery, it recently sent 15 patients in need of this type of service to Kenya.

Among those who underwent surgery is Abdikhakiin Yusuf Halil, a 22-year-old who has been hearing impaired for several years.