The Current State of Neurosurgery in Somaliland

Background: Surgical conditions account for as much as one third of the global burden of disease, yet 5 billion people worldwide do not have access to timely, affordable surgical care. These disparities in access to timely surgical care are most pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where the availability of specialty surgical services such as neurosurgery are severely limited or completely absent. The African autonomous region of Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa, is one such region.

Methods: Discussions were conducted with key individuals in Somaliland to ascertain the current state of neurosurgery in Somaliland.

Results: The current state of neurosurgery in Somaliland was characterized. First, a background on the recent history of the republic and the surrounding region was furnished, which provides context for the challenging socioeconomic conditions in Somaliland. Brief biographical sketches were presented of local leaders and general surgeons who are actively working to improve economic and health conditions and who welcome opportunities to improve all health services, including neurosurgery. In addition, an overview was presented of new initiatives in capacity building in neurosurgery and sources of directed training and care in neurosurgery.

Conclusions: This article provides the first-ever assessment of current neurosurgery-related activity in Somaliland. The article provides recommendations to guide the international neurosurgery community in future contributions.