Nurse Practitioner Starts Medical Hotline for Somali Patients Too Scared to Seek Care
- Minneapolis-based Inpire Change Clinic was founded by nurse practitioner Munira Maalimisaq.
- The clinic serves a large Somalian population, many of whom, Maalimisaq says, are now afraid to seek medical care out of fear of facing action from ICE agents.
- As a result, Maalimisaq started a phone rapid response hotline to speak with patients who are too scared to seek in-person care.
When Inspire Change Clinic opened its doors in Minneapolis, founder and nurse practitioner Munira Maalimisaq envisioned a safe space where marginalized communities could access compassionate care.
Today, that vision is being tested as fear ripples through the city’s Somali population, leaving waiting rooms empty and families hesitant to seek medical help.
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Maalimisaq says potential patients from the Somali population in the area are afraid of recent ICE crackdowns and, as a result, are avoiding seeking care or cancelling previous appointments.
'They're Afraid to Come Out of Their Homes'
This growing fear stems from recent rhetoric and policies targeting Somali immigrants — including heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence and inflammatory comments from national leaders.
Across Minneapolis, businesses and community spaces have grown unusually quiet, reflecting the tension that many Somali residents now live with daily.
“My patients are canceling. They’re afraid to come out of their homes,” Maalimisaq told CBS News.
A Hotline to Help
For Maalimisaq, the heartbreaking silence inside her clinic became unacceptable.
"I can't imagine a mom struggling with, 'Do I bring my kid in and jeopardize my safety and be picked up and lose my kids, or be separated from my kids? Or, do I get them the care that they need and risk it?" she said.
Determined to act, she reached out to colleagues and quickly launched a rapid response medical hotline designed for patients too afraid to visit in person.
The hotline connects callers to more than 40 volunteer health professionals who triage medical needs and, when possible, perform home visits.
The initiative has already become a beacon of hope and is focusing on people over politics.
"I'm speechless to know that Minnesota is greater and bigger than all the craziness that's going on," Maalimisaq added.
The clinic continues to encourage those in need to reach out for help. The rapid response line is available daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 612-315-2858.
To learn more about the clinic’s work, visit inspirechangeclinic.org.
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