Activist and journalist Hanifa Aden is set to receive professional medical treatment for a long-term ear condition after making a heartfelt appeal on social media.
Hanifa, who has been battling chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) a persistent ear infection that has progressively impaired her hearing took to the social media platform X to ask for help in finding a reputable Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist or hospital.
Her post quickly gained traction, drawing hundreds of responses from well-wishers, medical professionals, and supporters who shared advice, encouragement, and hospital recommendations.
On Tuesday, Hanifa returned to X to share the good news that she had secured the help she needed.
“I have no words. Thank you all. So so much. Oozing with gratitude,” she wrote in a post that attracted an outpouring of supportive messages. When asked by a follower if she had managed to book an appointment, she replied, “Yep, tomorrow morning insha Allah. Lazima booking kwanza.”
In another post, she expressed her deep appreciation: “I woke up to hundreds of messages and comments, and each one means the world to me. I’ve saved all your recommendations and will be acting on them immediately.”
Hanifa revealed this was the first time she had spoken openly about her condition, describing it as a major source of insecurity and emotional strain.
“Being able to finally speak openly about my progressive hearing loss and the challenges I’ve faced for years feels huge,” she wrote. “This has been my biggest insecurity, and it’s shaped my life in so many ways.”
While her upcoming surgery will not restore her hearing, it is expected to stop the infection and prevent further deterioration. She has already begun learning sign language “just in case I ever wake up and don’t hear again.”
Explaining why she chose to make her appeal on X, Hanifa said: “The community here has always come through for me. It felt like the right place to ask.”
Her experience highlights the power of online communities in rallying support and connecting people to critical medical care when they need it most.
