Together, we can break the barriers to diabetes care in Somalia — and give children the futures they deserve
The Somali Childhood Diabetes Organisation (SCDO) is a registered non-profit founded in 2025 and based in Mogadishu, Somalia. It is the first and only organisation in the country created solely to support children living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). In Somalia, living with diabetes is often a matter of survival. Around 80% of Somali families cannot afford continuous access to insulin, the medicine children with Type 1 Diabetes need every day to stay alive. Because of this, many children arrive at hospitals in critical condition, often in diabetic coma. They receive emergency treatment that saves their lives, but once they are stabilised, they are sent back home with no follow-up care, no insulin supply, and no guidance. Too often, these children return to the same conditions that nearly cost them their lives.
The healthcare system, already under severe strain, lacks reliable insulin supplies, trained specialists, and educational resources for families. Parents are left frightened and helpless, unsure how to care for their child or where to turn for support. Without consistent treatment and monitoring, children face repeated hospitalisations, long-term complications, and in many cases, preventable death. SCDO was created to break this cycle. We work to bridge these life-threatening gaps by providing free medical support, access to insulin and monitoring supplies, education for families, and community awareness.
We collaborate closely with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics to improve diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and long-term care for children with diabetes. Just as importantly, we focus on building strong, compassionate support networks that bring families together and reduce the isolation many feel after a diagnosis. SCDO also works to establish psychological support groups and other services that help children and their families cope with the emotional burden of living with a chronic illness. We prioritise support for the most financially disadvantaged families and raise public awareness through open discussions, community events, lectures, seminars, conferences, and educational publications.
A Somalia where every child living with diabetes is diagnosed early, treated equitably, and supported to thrive regardless of geography.
To build a sustainable system of care where Somali children with Type 1 Diabetes receive essential treatment and continuous education.
To reduce the impact of Type 1 Diabetes among Somali children by ensuring timely diagnosis and equitable access to life-saving care.
Providing medical assistance, education, awareness, early detection, screening, and healthcare capacity building.
SCDO provides free insulin, blood glucose monitoring supplies, and continuous diabetes care as a basic right, not a privilege.
We ensure regular health check-ups, track glucose levels effectively, and provide necessary follow-ups for every child.
Families are educated on Type 1 Diabetes management. We conduct diet and social counseling sessions during home and center visits.