Layla Omar Mohamed marks a child’s finger after administering the polio vaccine during the NID campaign in the Banadir region, Somalia. Photo credit: Abdirahim Caaylaawe30 October 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – “When I walk through these neighbourhoods, I am thinking of my children and my community. Each time I knock on a door, I know I am bringing hope,” says Layla Omar Mohamed, a polio vaccinator in Mogadishu and mother of 4.
Across Somalia, mothers from all walks of life are helping to build a healthier future for their children by protecting them from polio.
Layla joined efforts to reach families in Mogadishu’s Hodan district with vaccines in July 2019. Armed with her vaccine carrier, a winning smile and strong sense of purpose, she is among the many Somali mothers who have become vaccinators and health educators in their communities.
“Seeing the effects of polio – especially seeing children paralyzed – keeps me going. When I knock on a door, I know I’m helping to give children a real chance at a healthy future,” says Layla.
Layla, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Sombridge in Mogadishu, actively contributes to the Marwo Caafimaad Programme, a nationwide initiative for female health workers that aims to promote health awareness and expand access to health care in remote communities.
Layla Omar Mohamed, a polio vaccinator in Hodan district of the Banadir region, administers polio vaccines during the National Immunization Days (NID) campaign held in June in Banadir, Somalia. Photo credit: Abdirahim Caaylaawe Through this government-led programme, Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human Services recruits and trains women to provide essential health services directly to families in their homes. Their responsibilities include educating mothers about maternal and child health, delivering immunization, identifying symptoms of illnesses early and strengthening community connections to the health system. As part of the programme, Layla regularly explains the importance of getting children vaccinated against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Layla embodies the spirit of this year’s World Polio Day theme – ‘It’s not time to quit. It’s time to recommit’. Every day, she vaccinates children, answers parents’ questions and brings hope to families. Her unwavering commitment exemplifies the dedication needed to end polio in Somalia.
The fight against polio is more than a public health effort. It is a story of courage, persistence and hope. And it is being shaped by Somali mothers. From busy cities like Mogadishu to the most distant villages, women like Layla are leading the way.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
