Somali media practitioners and the Eastern Africa Media Institute is appealing to the international media community to assist in providing medical help to journalist Abdikahim Omar Jumaleh, who was wounded in a shooting by unknown gunmen in Mogadishu on 11 August 2007. His left hand was severely injured and he remains in poor condition nearly one year after the attack.

After three months of receiving medical attention at Keysaney hospital in Mogadishu, where he was operated, health personnel told Jumaleh it was impossible to help his wound due to lack of adequate care facilities. He thereafter traveled by bus to Nairobi on 28 October 2007 with his family to seek further medical care.

On 31 January 2008 Jumaleh was admitted to Kijabo hospital after other exiled Somali journalists in Nairobi raised money for another surgery. Since his last operation Jumaleh’s condition has worsened and he is in dire need of hospitalization and further surgical intervention.

Jumaleh is also not receiving any help for housing, food or other needs relating to his health. “If we fail to hospitalize him right now, his left arm would be amputated,” said Abdulkadir Walayo, chairman of the Eastern Africa Media Institute.

To find out more information please contact Abdulkadir Mohamoud Walayo, Chaiman of Eastern Africa Media Institute - Somalia Chapter EAMI-S through email at walaayo@yahoo.com or by phone at 252-15501600.