Conflict and insecurity in Somalia have hampered development in recent years. Famine in Somalia has put millions of people at risk of severe malnutrition and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and measles. The geography and topography of Somalia makes it vulnerable to natural disasters, including droughts, famine, floods, and cyclones. These conditions have weakened, overburdened and, in some cases, destroyed the country’s health service delivery institutions.
In spite of recurrent humanitarian emergencies, war and conflict, Somalia has successfully eradicated wild poliovirus and ended transmission of measles and cholera outbreaks in the recent past. However, the current outbreak of COVID-19 has exposed some of the weaknesses in its health systems.
WHO is providing technical support and policy advice to national and state health authorities to advance progress towards universal health care. There is also a strong focus on building a bridge between humanitarian and development settings to build resilience and support recovery of Somalia’s health system.
WHO supports Somali health authorities to provide equitable and safe access to emergency and essential life-saving health services for vulnerable populations, and to build health system resilience for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and disaster risk reduction. WHO also supports health ministries in planning and conducting mass immunization campaigns to prevent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and other epidemic-prone diseases.
