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Regional health ministries and Banadir accuse federal government of halting cooperation


Monday September 9, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL) — The Ministries of Health from Somalia's federal member states and Banadir region have accused the Federal Ministry of Health of canceling cooperation with regional governments and the Banadir region, escalating tensions over the delivery of crucial health services.

In a joint press release issued on Sunday, the regional health ministries and Banadir administration claimed that the federal government had ordered organizations to cease working directly with the member states and Banadir.

The statement highlighted that several key initiatives, including the Damal Project, had been obstructed, with a $25 million funding expected to return to the World Bank. They also cited the looming closure of the COVID-19 Project by October 2025, as well as significant delays in the recruitment for the CCU Project, which could expire by April 2025.

The health ministries accused the federal government of suspending vital programs, such as the Global Fund Project, for nine months, halting technical committee meetings, and freezing the CHASP Project steering committee. Furthermore, they alleged that the federal authorities had removed regional governments from consultations, diminishing their involvement in decision-making processes regarding healthcare delivery.

"The medical supplies and medicines that were previously sent directly to the federal member states and Banadir have been stopped by federal order, and organizations are now required to deliver them exclusively to the Federal Ministry of Health," the statement said, criticizing the lack of direct access to essential resources.

The regional health ministries also expressed concern over delays in the GAVI Project for immunizing Somali children and mothers and criticized the federal government for implementing a new health service delivery system without regional input.

The Federal Ministry of Health has not responded to the accusations. The ongoing dispute underscores the broader power struggle between Somalia's federal and regional authorities, which has intensified recently.



 





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