One of the best gifts a caregiver can give their child is a full and healthy life; but in Somalia, this is difficult for families to provide as a significant number of children lack access to health services.
Just under half of children under one year of age – the target for routine immunisation – receive adequate immunisations, according to WHO reports.
Additionally, one out of every eight Somali children dies before the age of 5, which can be attributed to a number of reasons, including poor health.
Somalia’s Ministry of Health is working with WHO and UNICEF, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to change this situation.
In September, they joined forces to launch a new, updated version of the health system strengthening (HSS) programme in Mogadishu, with various groups of the community in attendance, including elders, women’s groups, religious leaders, and Somali health authorities.
