Ururka Qaran ee Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed

National Union of Somali Journalists

Journalists and Union Officials visit Journalist Hassan Mohamed Mohamoud suffering Severe diabetes at COPTIC Hospital in Nairobi and Call for Urgent Assistance

Mogadishu, February 4, 2012

Some of the senior Somali journalists in Nairobi and their union leaders, visited colleague Hassan Mohamed Mohamoud better known as Hassan Jaceyl, who has been suffering severe diabetes and had one of his legs amputated last year due to the diabetes, at COPTIC hospital in Nairobi on, on Saturday February 4, 2012.

Hassan, 45, a veteran journalist, has been suffering from diabetes in recent years, but the disease took him into a dire situation and was admitted to South B Hospital in Nairobi mid 2011which resulted to have his right leg amputated and since then did not heal properly. Somali Journalists through their union fundraised more than $7000 for his medical expenses. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international press freedom organization based in New York also donated additional fund for Hassan's medical expenses.

He came to Nairobi after the radio and Television - Horn Afrik Radio and Television - was seized by the Shabab in 2010, followed by fear and threats.

Last Wednesday, Mohamed Garane Adan, NUSOJ's Training Secretary, who is also the union representative in Nairobi handed over a total of 88, 191 Kenya Shillings donated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an International Press Freedom organization based in Paris, to Hassan.

Somali Journalists led by Mohamed Garane, NUSOJ's training Secretary visited at COPTIC hospital in Nairobi. The journalists learned by shocking health condition of Hassan- his kidneys malfunctioned due to the diabetes - in his dyless room.

Hassan's condition worsened since last week. The journalists and the union officials who visited include Mohamed Garane Adan, NUSOJ's training Secretary, Ali Mose Abdi, a veteran journalist who works for AFP, Bile Abdullahi Ali, Heeb Abdi, Abdifitah Omar Halane, Ahmed Muuse Guurre Waqa, Mohamed Barre, Cabdifitah Mohamed Elmi, Abdi-asis Ibrahim Ali, Ahmed Hasan Qeyre, among others.

Hassan's Dr. George Muturi said that Hassan was fortunate, after performing CT BRAIN SCAN, Dr. Muturi declared that Hassan's brain was healthy and in good condition. The brain scanning follows after Hassan went unconscious. Dr. Muturi added that they will do their best for Hassan's healing.

Mr. Garane declared that "Our colleague Hassan needs help from his fellow brothers and sisters and the entire media members in Kenya and Somalia," noting that it is the duty of each of us to donate for the healthy recovery of our colleague."

Ali Mose Abdi, a veteran journalist working for the AFP, after briefly talking about the disease that led to Hassan's kidneys malfunction, reiterated that "Our colleague Hassan needs constant assistance from the Somali Journalists and the Somali community at large, as long as his kidneys will need Dylesis every time.

Please donate/help Hassan to recover. For more information, Hassan can be reached through Ahmed Mire Ali, a relative member who is currently helping him: +254 7222 07041 Or the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) who will guide you.

Back to Front-page