Medical supplies and equipment reach hospitals in Mogadishu

Medina referral hospital, Mogadishu

Somalia’s poor national health was exacerbated by state collapse; health security has long eluded the vast majority of Somalis. Many parts of the country’s health system collapsed or never existed before to state dissolution in 1991. Public health and the standard of healthcare services in Somalia are among the worst in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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In a country where around three-quarters of the population lives under US$2 per day, financial hardship is one of the key reasons why Somalis do not access or seek health services. Somalia also falls far below the minimum global expectation of the doctor/patient ratio. Currently, there are only four doctors, nurses or midwives for every 10 000 people in Somalia. In addition, one out of every 12 women dies due to causes related to pregnancy, and 1 out of every 7 Somali children dies under the age of 5.
 
A total of three 20ft containers filled with medical supplies and equipment was distributed to several community clinics in Mogadishu by the World Mobilization Somalia and Action Medeor in partnership with ISIR Consulting and SOFORD, a non-governmental organization in Mogadishu.
 
Medina hospital is one of the two largest referral hospitals in the city that treats several hundred war-wounded patients and expectant mothers every month and is focused more on trauma and emergency services. To ensure the safety of patients, renowned physicians provided free health exams to patients in an exam site set up at the hospital.
 
Our support for Somalia’s health system will continue. Partnership agreements with local authorities and non-governmental organizations are the primary way health services are supported in Somalia.

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