Wednesday May 11, 2022
In their continued and collective efforts to improve health
system resilience, the Ministry of Health and Human Services of the Federal
Government of Somalia, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Embassy of Italy
have joined forces and officially launched a €3 million multi-year project
entitled ‘Improving essential health services in Somalia using a secondary
hospital-based care approach.’
The project is designed to improve delivery of essential
health services at the secondary level care in Somalia by focusing on building
strong and resilient hospital-based care at Hudur General Hospital in South
West state and Dhusamareb General Hospital in Galmudug state – both of which
are currently unable to meet the health care demand and needs of populations
within their respective catchment areas. Developed under the leadership of the
Federal Ministry of Health, in close partnership with WHO and the Italian
Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project aims to achieve
universal health coverage (UHC) through strengthening hospital-based care for
integrated delivery of secondary and critical care services, as well as
improving hospital management system for better stewardship and effective
service delivery.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the
Government of Italy for their very valuable support as they are a key donor
supporting secondary care and hospital management in Somalia. This support will
help Somalia to make strides in the provision of critical care for patients and
strengthening of referral systems, as well as for improving the overall
credibility of and trust in the public health facilities –a crucial goal for
Somalia’s health system,” said HE Dr Fawziya Abikar Nur, Federal Minister of
Health and Human Services.
“In 2019, only 27% of Somalia’s population had access to
essential health services,” said Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative
and Head of Mission to Somalia. “Thanks to the support from the Government of
Italy and AICS, with this project we will have the opportunity to change this
narrative by offering crucial, life-saving services to more Somalis,
particularly those who are vulnerable and live in remote locations. Moreover,
the services offered are aligned to the revised essential package of health
services for Somalia.”
“The project will contribute to the
humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN) in Somalia, by linking the
short-term goal of improving secondary level care to the long-term development
goal of the government-to improve essential health services. It will also
foster peace and development among the communities being served by contributing
to addressing the root causes of tension and marginalization, and increasing
health equity,” said HE Alberto Vecchi, Ambassador of Italy to Somalia.
Over a 2-year period, among other things, this project will
aim to: optimize basic primary care services; fill in existing gaps in the
provision of specialized, secondary health care (e.g. emergency, critical,
surgical care); offer referral services to at least 5 districts in each state;
use solar power to deliver oxygen; refine waste management systems; ensure
gender balance in capacity development and employment; improve hospital
management and ownership by the local health authorities; and improve the
capability of health personnel to better respond to emergencies. Overall, and
in addition to being in line with the new Essential Package of Health Services
(EPHS) 2020 for Somalia, this project will complement efforts towards achieving
the target of UHC and ensuring health for all.
The official announcement follows a previous signing
ceremony and a high-level commitment ceremony held on 21 April and 11 January
2022, respectively, in Mogadishu. During the latter, the Federal Ministry of
Health, WHO, Embassy of Italy and Mr Luca Maestripieri, Director of AICS and
Minister Plenipotentiary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation, collectively agreed to work together in ‘Improving essential
health services in Somalia using a secondary hospital-based care approach’ into
the future across Somalia.
Note to editors This new and vital multi-year project stems
from a continued partnership established between WHO, the Embassy of Italy in
Mogadishu and AICS Somalia, whereby a total of €1.4 million has been provided
to WHO since 2019 to support emergency response activities, as well as mental
health and psychosocial support services for vulnerable populations and victims
of improvised explosive devices at Hudur General Hospital.