Somalia: HirShabelle leader condoles with family of minister who succumbed to COVID-19

MOGADISHU, Somalia - HirShabelle State president Mohamed Abdi Ware on Sunday condoled the demise of a state minister who died of coronavirus, saying he will be remembered for his fine work.

Khalif Mumin Tohow, the HirShabelle state minister for justice succumbed to the dangerous virus, just four days after testing positive at De Martini Hospital in Mogadishu, officials said, becoming the second person to die of COVID-19. 

Without giving intricate information about the latest tragedy, the ministry sent condolences to the affected family, adding that "it's sad that we have recorded the second death within just a week".

Somalia's first COVID-19 death involved a 58-year-old resident of Mogadishu, who did not have any travel history, the ministry had said. He also died at Martini Hospital, the only isolation facility for Coronavirus in Mogadishu.

The state's information minister Mohamed Abdirahman had said his colleague was "stable but critical" after testing positive, adding that "he's currently undergoing treatment in Mogadishu".

Abdirahman further added that "there is no need to panic. We are hopeful that doctors will ensure his health his stabilized". Tohow became the senior-most Somali official within the country to contract the disease.

But in her press conference on Saturday, Health Minister Dr. Fawziya Abikar indicated that "we have two critical patients who need urgent medical care. We just hope that they will survive the battle".

However, she did not mention their names further making it cumbersome to establish that Tohow was one of the victims admitted at the facility's Intensive Care Unit in Mogadishu.

He joins the list of prominent Somalis who have succumbed to the virus, although most of them stay abroad. Notable among them are prominent musician Ahmed Ismail Hussein and former Prime Minister Nur Adde, officials said.

Last week, Tohow attended a cabinet meeting in Jowhar town, a further worry that more people could have contracted the disease. It's not clear if health officials were able to trace his contact for isolation and treatment.

Reports indicate that the justice minister also held a United Kingdom passport just like many Somalis, who had seized asylum abroad following the deadly civil war that left thousands dead and several others displaced in the 90s.

The family announced his death but no immediate burial plans were communicated. But due to strict Islamic regulations, he's likely to be laid to rest within the course of the day.

Somalia has recorded 22 positive cases of the disease of which one has since recovered. The latest death now means Somalia has only 19 active cases of those who have managed to be screened. Very few people have been tested due to an almost dysfunctional healthcare system.

On Saturday, reports indicated that three doctors from a Turkish-run hospital in Mogadishu tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital has since been shut down for members of the public, reports indicate.

Mogadishu Mayor Omar Filish had however sensationally claimed that many people have succumbed to the disease, although he did not give evidence to support his argument.

The country has suspended international and domestic flights besides banning mass public gatherings. Also suspended is learning in all public and private institutions, as the country races towards curbing the disease from spreading.

By Saturday, over 1.7 million people had tested positive for COVID-19 globally. Of this number, 400,000 have fully recovered and 102,000 succumbed. The US, Spain, Italy, Britain, and China are the worst hit, data presented by John Hopkins University shows.

GAROWE ONLINE