MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The European Union (EU) launched $6 million worth projects to support the WHO activities and the Federal Government of Somalia to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and strengthen the health services delivery across the country.
Nicolas Berlanga Martinez, EU Ambassador to Somalia, said the project will also strengthen the health services delivery across the country as Somalia’s health systems start recovering from the aftershock of the pandemic.
“In the path towards a prosperous and stable Somalia, COVID-19 should be seen as an opportunity to develop better public services and make Federal and States’ institutions work together in a more coordinated way,” said Martinez in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.
The project aims to contain and suppress the COVID-19 epidemic, and other disease outbreaks, in locations where signs of virus circulation and transmission continue.
The project, which was signed in December 2020, will contribute to preventing large-scale community transmission of COVID-19 and further spread and/or resurgence of the virus, as well as other epidemic-prone diseases, while helping health systems recover better and stronger.
Health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur said: “In addition to saving lives and preventing the spread of COVID-19, this project will help us build a legacy for Somalia’s health systems.”
“We are grateful to our partners, the EU and WHO, who are supporting us to reduce the burden and effects of deadly and communicable diseases, save lives of our community members and make our health systems stronger and more effective.”
Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia, said the UN agency will redouble its efforts along with the EU and Somali government to ensure everyone in Somalia is safe and protected from COVID-19 and other health threats.
“Building integrated disease surveillance systems and the capacity of health care workers on disease detection and surveillance will remain key to achieving the impact of the project,” Malik said.
He said strengthening coordination and operational capacity for risk communication, delivering people-centered primary health care services will ensure access and availability of health services for the marginalized and vulnerable populations.
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