In Somaliland, a region in East Africa not widely recognized by most countries, the healthcare system is facing numerous challenges. The Taiwanese medical team, stationed there for nearly six months, is attempting to find resources to repair donated but malfunctioning equipment and improve the facilities and processes in intensive care units, while simultaneously teaching local residents how to provide proper medical care.

According to their leader, Su Ying-Shih, Somaliland lacks a physician licensing system, allowing medical graduates to practice without licensing. This results in uneven professional skills among doctors. Moreover, physicians earn only about $70 a month, essentially rendering them volunteers.

The local power supply is highly unstable, causing frequent malfunctions of medical devices. Some equipment, only suffering minor component failures, has been left unused for years due to the lack of maintenance. The uncertain supply of medical resources means patients often face the dilemma of having no medication available. Many patients, particularly those with chronic illnesses, lack systematic follow-up care, which exacerbates their conditions.

Cultural habits pose significant challenges for the Taiwanese medical team as they attempt to introduce sanitation standards and medical processes. For instance, family members of patients sometimes dismantle hygiene facilities, making it difficult to improve environmental health. In this challenging environment, the Taiwanese medical team aims to help local physicians develop a better healthcare system by training them to think critically about problem-solving.