Our Local Beginnings
GHA was founded in response to the personal experiences of our founders, Ikraan and Farhiyo, who faced severe healthcare challenges that highlighted critical gaps in access to medical resources.
Their father’s near-death experience due to inadequate medical care in Somalia, and the tragic loss of Board Member Markabo Hassan’s step-father in Ethiopia, underscored the urgent need for accessible, high-quality healthcare. These experiences ignited our founders’ passion to create GHA, with the aim of preventing such preventable tragedies.
IKRAAN’S STORY
My father’s near-fatal experience due to lack of medical resources was a wake-up call. It made me realize the critical need for accessible healthcare in undeserved regions. GHA is my commitment to ensuring that no one else suffers because of preventable healthcare gaps.
MARKABO’S STORY
Witnessing the loss of a loved one due to inadequate healthcare resources was devastating. It motivated me to co-found GHA, dedicated to bridging the gaps in global healthcare and providing essential medical supplies to those in need.
Our journey started with community health initiatives right here in Minneapolis, focusing on:
- Providing culturally competent healthcare education to immigrant families
- Organizing free health screenings in underserved neighborhoods
- Collaborating with local clinics to improve access for non-English speaking patients
- Mentoring aspiring healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds
These local efforts laid the foundation for our broader mission and continue to be a cornerstone of our work today.
Bridging Local and Global
As we grew, we realized that our local experiences gave us unique insights into addressing global health challenges. Many of our team members, having personal connections to countries like Somalia, understood the pressing need for improved healthcare in these regions.
Our local work in Minnesota has directly informed our international efforts:
- We’ve adapted our culturally sensitive healthcare education programs for use in Somalia
- Our experience in organizing community health events in Minneapolis has been applied to rural outreach programs in Africa
- The relationships we’ve built with Minnesota hospitals have facilitated donations of vital medical equipment to clinics abroad
Local Impact
- Trained 2 doulas from diverse backgrounds
- Established partnerships with 3 local clinics to improve healthcare access for immigrant communities
- Planning state-wide apprenticeship program for community health workers
- Organized annual health fairs reaching 1,000+ residents in underserved Minneapolis neighborhoods
Global Reach
- Equipped 5 hospitals in Somalia with modern medical technology
- Trained 80+ healthcare professionals in essential newborn care & helping mothers survive
- Established master trainers in helping mothers and babies survive across Somali communities
- Reduced maternal mortality rates by implementing training modules in helping mothers and babies survive
As we look to the future, we remain committed to our founding principle: that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live. We continue to bridge the gap between local and global health initiatives, using our experiences in Minnesota to inform and enhance our international efforts.