10 November 2024 – My first go to to Somalia as Regional Director occurred because the nation stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, Somalia is reeling from greater than 3 a long time of battle and instability, excessive climate occasions, illness outbreaks and regional fragility. On the opposite, the nation is poised for change. Somalia’s leaders are dedicated to transformation and the Somali individuals — lots of them born through the civil struggle — are wanting to contribute to the progress of their nation.
My 3-day go to to Mogadishu included discussions with senior authorities officers, humanitarian companions and donors throughout which we targeted on strengthening coordination and help to deal with a few of the most crucial well being points dealing with the individuals of Somalia and the well being system that serves them.
In lots of components of the nation the well being infrastructure has been devastated. Greater than 40% of Somalis lack entry to primary well being companies. Extra youngsters beneath the age of 5 and ladies giving beginning die from preventable causes than wherever else on this planet, primarily because of restricted infrastructure and the scarcity of expert well being employees, significantly midwives, in distant and rural areas.
The nation is more and more impacted by excessive climate occasions corresponding to drought and floods. Whereas coordinated preparedness and response efforts by WHO and companions have been capable of avert famine through the 2022–2023 drought, tens of 1000’s of youngsters misplaced their lives and tens of millions of individuals stay susceptible to starvation and illness.
Greater than 1.5 million youngsters have but to obtain a single vaccine dose in opposition to polio, tetanus, diphtheria and measles. Disadvantaged of entry to important well being companies, these youngsters face not solely the potential for contracting lethal illnesses however a number of different well being dangers.
At De Martino Hospital in Mogadishu, one of many flagship amenities supported by WHO, I administered polio drops to a child boy, symbolizing WHO’s dedication — alongside the Ministry of Well being, UNICEF and different International Polio Eradication Initiative companions — to addressing the world’s longest-running polio outbreak of circulating variant poliovirus sort 2. The outbreak predominantly impacts youngsters in hard-to-reach areas the place safety challenges complicate our work, and main city centres the place massive numbers of internally displaced individuals are concentrated.
The polio programme has lately made strides in reaching unvaccinated youngsters and bettering the standard of polio vaccination campaigns which combine important well being companies, corresponding to vitamin A and deworming tablets, every time possible. The Large Catchup, rolled out with companions, maintains a laser deal with reaching youngsters who missed out on lifesaving vaccines through the COVID-19 pandemic. However pressing and concerted efforts by nationwide authorities and companions are nonetheless wanted in any respect ranges, together with the district stage in rural and nomadic communities — involving Somali communities themselves — to cease the debilitating poliovirus from robbing extra youngsters of their proper to a wholesome and productive life.
In my assembly with Somalia’s Prime Minister HE Mr Hamza Abdi Barre, I expressed appreciation for his dedication to ending the present polio outbreak within the central and southern components of the nation, together with by establishing the Immunization and Polio Eradication Job Pressure which he personally leads. This political dedication is reverberating throughout the nation, together with on the state stage with the inauguration of polio campaigns. With continued help from our groups, companions and Somalia’s indomitable well being employees, I’m optimistic the nation will quickly finish poliovirus transmission, because it has completed with earlier outbreaks.
In intensive discussions with the Minister of Well being HE Dr Ali Haji Adan, I used to be briefed on the preparatory work being completed to reform Somalia’s well being sector as a part of the nation’s Nationwide Transformation Plan 2025–2029. I visited the transformation hub which was buzzing with exercise as consultants labored on information analytics and proof to determine priorities inside the plan, feasibility of implementation and financing sources. I used to be additionally happy to see that lots of the well being priorities recognized within the first section of the plan align with my regional flagship initiatives, together with scaling up the specialised well being workforce and increasing entry to secure and efficient medicines.
Restoring well being infrastructure — destroyed through the civil struggle in lots of components of Somalia — is important to restoring the well being system. Throughout my go to, I emphasised the significance of nationwide well being authorities strengthening governance, laws and oversight features throughout the well being sector consistent with Somalia’s federal system. Making use of regulatory requirements for medicines, vaccines and medical provides is important to sustaining the standard of well being companies. Constructing the capability of well being employees, increasing maternal and little one well being companies, growing accreditation for well being care amenities and increasing the well being workforce are urgently wanted.
So, too, is a coordinated, multisectoral strategy. Many public well being threat components — together with meals, agriculture, water and sanitation — fall outdoors the remit of well being governance. Solely by addressing these points collectively can Somalia construct a sustainable well being system that meets the wants of its inhabitants.
Multisectoral coordination have to be enhanced by humanitarian companions. In my assembly with representatives of United Nations companies in Mogadishu, we mentioned modifications within the nationwide planning course of and their alignment with the brand new UN Cooperation Framework for Somalia. We agreed that these modifications current a possibility to strengthen coordination and synergy throughout sectors, significantly in addressing cross-cutting challenges corresponding to maternal mortality and meals insecurity.
My time in Somalia allowed me to witness not solely the challenges confronted by the individuals of Somalia however the huge obstacles dealing with help employees as they assist others in a posh and insecure surroundings. To them, I categorical my honest respect and admiration.
WHO is dedicated to standing shoulder to shoulder with Somalis to ship the Important Package deal of Well being Providers regardless of the challenges dealing with the nation. WHO’s decentralized presence in Somalia facilitates the supply of technical help to states to allow them to successfully develop and ship well being companies and helps make sure that we attain bigger components of the inhabitants, bringing well being companies to the place they’re most wanted.
Somalia’s evolving state of affairs calls for ongoing dedication from the worldwide neighborhood and adaptableness from all companions to maintain well being companies, shield public well being features and construct a resilient well being system that may stand up to future challenges and promote the well being and well-being of all Somalis.
