Somalia’s Minister of Health and Social Care, Dr. Ali Haji Adan, stated that nearly 600 health facilities operating in the country were at risk of closure due to a decline in health funding.
The Minister noted that these facilities relied on external funding—which has dropped significantly—thereby jeopardizing the continuity of health services in the country.
“We sought funding for the 600 facilities that were at risk of closing, and we succeeded in securing the necessary resources to keep them operational through December,” said Ali Haji Adan.
He explained that Somalia’s health sector has heavily relied on donor support, particularly as a large portion of the country’s domestic revenue is allocated to security.
“The drop in funding has severely impacted the health sector,” the Minister said.
Ali Haji stated that the ministry is working to secure sustainable funding for the health facilities at risk of closure, ensuring they can continue providing services to the community. The decline in funding comes at a time when Somalia continues to face extensive health needs, particularly regarding maternal and child health services and access to healthcare in areas far from major cities.
The Minister stated that, despite funding challenges, the ministry has made progress in health services in recent years.
He noted that vaccination coverage has risen from approximately 40 percent when he took office to over 70 percent, while the reach of basic health services has increased from 42 percent to more than 65 percent.
The Minister also reported that maternal mortality has dropped from 692 to 563 deaths per 100,000 births, though he acknowledged that this level is not yet where Somalia aims to be.
Meanwhile, Ali Haji Adan stated that the ministry plans to recruit hundreds of midwives across the country to extend maternal and child health services to districts and villages that currently lack adequate healthcare. The Minister made these remarks during a meeting with the Social Services Committee of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, where he was questioned about the ministry’s performance, funding challenges, and plans to improve health services.
