Hiiraan Online
Tuesday February 21, 2017
Eye surgery camp with ‘Right To Sight’ returns vision to hundreds in Galkayo, Somalia. FILE PHOTO
Nairobi (HOL) - The World Bank hosted Somali government officials, international development partners, and ambassadors at a roundtable discussion focused on a recently released Country Health Status Note.
The World Bank says that the report - which focuses on improving Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP) outcomes in Somalia - is based on evidence gathered through extensive research of the health sector, it's payroll systems in Somalia as well as meetings with key informants.
Dr. Abdirizak Yuusuf Ahmed, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Health and Human Services acknowledged that Somalia faces an uphill climb in developing the health sector but welcomed the support from the international community.
“Somalia faces several challenges in the health sector that require home-grown, contextualized development approaches. We welcome the international community’s commitment to holistic health sector support”
The Country Health Status Note supports the principle that substantial investment through a multi-sectoral approach is needed in Somalia to improve population health.
“Somalia, like most fragile states, needs to re-build its health system and this comes with a huge cost. Official donor assistance to health is not enough to meet population needs and therefore it remains critical for Somalia to develop sustainable and innovative health reform and financing strategies. We welcome the World Bank’s future engagement in the health sector,” said Mikael Lindvall, Swedish Ambassador to Somalia.
The Somali government contributes very little to the health sector in Somalia, thus, the sector is heavily reliant on funding from donors, private investment and direct payment from patients. The World Bank says the private investment is disproportionately funneled into hospital care, so "there is a need for developing sustainable financial strategies for basic reproductive, maternal and child health, and nutrition services.
“It is important to align financing with huge country needs, target the poor and most vulnerable populations, and be innovative in fostering public-private partnership,” said Magnus Lindelow, Practice Manager of Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice of the World Bank Group.
World Bank engagement in Somalia is mainly channeled through the Multi-Partner Fund (MPF). The MPF portfolio, which focuses on core economic infrastructure, enabling economic growth, and effective and accountable governance.