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Spreading the word about vaccines in Somalia’s remote communities
Dr. Husein Mohamed Abdi examines Masna’s finger mark after she received the necessary vaccines at the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centre in Toon, near Hargeisa, Somalia. Photo credit: WHO, Khadar Hared30 October 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – On the morning of 27 August 2025, the fourth day of nationwide efforts to deliver the new oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), health supervisors from WHO Somalia visited Toon, a small village about 20 km southeast of Hargeisa in Somaliland.
At the local maternal and child health centre in the village, the team met 25-year-old Somali mother Hamda Awil Jama and her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Masna Abdirizak. To their surprise, Hamda revealed that Masna had never received a single routine childhood vaccine.
“I thought I was just bringing Masna for a nutrition check,” recalls Hamda Awil Jama. “But then my daughter received her very first vaccines.”
Hamda explains how the situation arose. “After moving to the village of Jibase I went to the maternal and child health centre in Toon village, 7 km away, to have my daughter checked for nutrition. Before we moved to the village, we were pastoralists and farmers living deep in the Hawd area. I gave birth to my daughter Masna in a place where we had no knowledge of immunization and no access to health services.”
The Hawd area is a stretch of remote bushland along Somalia’s border with Ethiopia. Like many children from pastoralist families who are constantly on the move, searching for grazing and water, Masna had missed all her vaccines.
Hamda Awil Jama cradles her daughter, Masna, as they wait for her turn to receive the vaccine at the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) center in Toon village. Photo credit: WHO, Khadar HaredHamda and her daughter had walked to Toon village. When they arrived at the centre, team members asked about Masna’s vaccination status. When it became clear the three-and-a-half-year-old was a zero-dose child, the health workers explained to Hamda how vaccines protect children from deadly diseases, especially during the first 5 years of life, and why completing all doses is crucial.
Masna then received her first essential vaccines. “And now she is doing well,” says her mother. “I have seen no problems with the vaccines – only hope for my daughter’s life and future.”
After Masna received her first doses of oral polio vaccine, pentavalent vaccine, inactivated polio vaccine and measles-containing vaccine, Hamda felt both relief and a determination to ensure that Masna never again missed out on a lifesaving opportunity.
"Now I understand the importance of vaccines and how they protect my child I have been sharing my knowledge with mothers in similar situations. Even though I come from a rural area, I will make sure Masna never misses a vaccine again," said Hamda.
A health worker at the MCH administers vaccines to Masna, a three-year-old receiving immunizations for the first time since birth. Photo credit: WHO, Khadar HaredWhile reaching children in Somalia’s remote communities with vaccines is challenging, Hamda and Masna’s story reveals a simple truth – that every conversation with a parent helps ensure a child grows up healthy and protected.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
Mothers lead the way to a polio-free Somalia
Layla Omar Mohamed marks a child’s finger after administering the polio vaccine during the NID campaign in the Banadir region, Somalia. Photo credit: Abdirahim Caaylaawe30 October 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – “When I walk through these neighbourhoods, I am thinking of my children and my community. Each time I knock on a door, I know I am bringing hope,” says Layla Omar Mohamed, a polio vaccinator in Mogadishu and mother of 4.
Across Somalia, mothers from all walks of life are helping to build a healthier future for their children by protecting them from polio.
Layla joined efforts to reach families in Mogadishu’s Hodan district with vaccines in July 2019. Armed with her vaccine carrier, a winning smile and strong sense of purpose, she is among the many Somali mothers who have become vaccinators and health educators in their communities.
“Seeing the effects of polio – especially seeing children paralyzed – keeps me going. When I knock on a door, I know I’m helping to give children a real chance at a healthy future,” says Layla.
Layla, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Sombridge in Mogadishu, actively contributes to the Marwo Caafimaad Programme, a nationwide initiative for female health workers that aims to promote health awareness and expand access to health care in remote communities.
Layla Omar Mohamed, a polio vaccinator in Hodan district of the Banadir region, administers polio vaccines during the National Immunization Days (NID) campaign held in June in Banadir, Somalia. Photo credit: Abdirahim Caaylaawe Through this government-led programme, Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human Services recruits and trains women to provide essential health services directly to families in their homes. Their responsibilities include educating mothers about maternal and child health, delivering immunization, identifying symptoms of illnesses early and strengthening community connections to the health system. As part of the programme, Layla regularly explains the importance of getting children vaccinated against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Layla embodies the spirit of this year’s World Polio Day theme – ‘It’s not time to quit. It’s time to recommit’. Every day, she vaccinates children, answers parents’ questions and brings hope to families. Her unwavering commitment exemplifies the dedication needed to end polio in Somalia.
The fight against polio is more than a public health effort. It is a story of courage, persistence and hope. And it is being shaped by Somali mothers. From busy cities like Mogadishu to the most distant villages, women like Layla are leading the way.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
WHO and ECHO provide essential aid for malnourished children in Somalia
12 October 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu – Somalia’s largest paediatric referral public hospital – is at the forefront of efforts to address severe acute malnutrition.
Inside the stabilization centre, small hospital beds are lined up, each holding a child fighting not only hunger but illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhoea and dehydration. Nurses move quickly between them, administering essential medicines, checking oxygen and comforting worried mothers who have often walked long distances to find help. For many, Banadir Hospital is their last hope.
“Most of the cases we see are extremely, severely malnourished, and often come with many complications,” says Dr Mohamed Jama Hashi, a paediatric specialist at Banadir Hospital. “Some children arrive swollen, some need oxygen, others come in shock – their small bodies are fighting for survival – and severely dehydrated. The family members who bring them are often visibly malnourished themselves.”
Over the past few months the Hospital’s stabilization centre – Somalia’s main referral point for malnourished children – has seen a sharp increase in emergency cases. Families travel for hours, sometimes days, to reach the hospital, clinging to the hope that their children will survive.
Timely access to essential medicines supports recovery and saves lives. For families struggling to feed their children amid drought and rising prices, finding free treatment here offers a rare sense of relief. “The medicines are critical because they address complications and play an important role in rehabilitation,” says Dr. Hashi. “They also prevent struggling mothers from having to search outside the hospital for treatment they could never afford.”
Supplies mean survival
Inside the ward, treatment begins immediately with essential medicines supplied through the World Health Organization’s (WHO) paediatric severe acute malnutrition (PED/SAM) kits. Delivered with support from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the kits are designed for inpatient care of severely acute malnourished children with medical complications.
“These medicines are essential for managing the most complicated cases,” explains Dr Abdulmunim Mohamed, Nutrition & Health Technical Focal Point, WHO Somalia. “They help prevent and treat life-threatening complications. Their timely use is crucial in reducing mortality and giving these children a chance to recover.”
The supplies mean the difference between life and death for thousands of Somali children. According to Dr Abdulmunim, “ECHO’s support has been critical in saving lives today and strengthening systems for tomorrow, ensuring that Somalia’s most vulnerable children not only survive severe acute malnutrition but also access integrated health services that safeguard their long-term recovery.”
At Banadir hospital, the results are visible every day. Severely malnourished children who arrive on the edge of survival gradually regain strength. Family members, many exhausted from their own struggles with hunger, find hope in the knowledge that their children can recover. Parents who bring critically ill children to Banadir Hospital Stabilization Centre can trust that the Hospital is stocked with the essential medical supplies needed to provide quality treatment and reduce preventable child deaths.
ECHO’s contribution has been vital in ensuring that essential medicines reach families who would otherwise have had no access to them. “It is a programme we deeply appreciate,” Dr Hashi said. “Without it, many Somali children would not have survived.”
In Somalia, drought, diseases, conflict and poverty continue to put children’s lives at risk. For many, quick access to therapeutic food and medical care is the difference between life and death. With support from WHO and ECHO, thousands of children aren’t just being treated – they’re getting a chance to live, grow and thrive.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
Kim Beentjes, External Relations Officer, WHO Somalia
Email:
Polio campaign reaches more than 1.5 million children in northern Somalia
2 September 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – More than 1.5 million children under 5 received the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in Somaliland and Puntland during the second round of a nationwide vaccination campaign.
The campaign – part of Somalia’s ongoing efforts to end polio once and for all – launched on 24 August in Somaliland, where health teams successfully vaccinated 852,000 children – from urban and remote rural communities – with nOPV2. In Puntland, the campaign began on 26 August and protected 676,000 children across all districts, including in hard-to-reach areas where access to health care is limited.
In both states, the campaign was led by the respective ministries of health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners. Ahead of the vaccination drive, frontline health workers were trained to administer the vaccine safely, maintain accurate records, and follow strict safety protocols, ensuring that every child reached was fully protected.
“We have not yet reached where we need to be, but we remain committed to eradicating polio,” said Dr Ahmed Jama, Director General of the Ministry of Health Development, Somaliland. “Vaccination is helping safeguard our children and prevent deadly outbreaks. The communities of Somaliland, especially parents, have worked hand in hand with us. Delivering vaccines to our children is vital. It strengthens public health, which in turn builds healthier, more educated and resilient communities. We will continue our awareness efforts to ensure that lifesaving messages reach every corner of Somaliland.”
In addition to administering polio vaccines, the campaign strengthened routine immunization services and engaged communities to build trust, address concerns and raise awareness about the importance of immunization.
Similar polio campaigns, with ministries of health working closely with WHO and UNICEF, have been conducted in other Somalia’s states. So far in 2025, 3 rounds have been completed in southern and central states – a sub-national immunization round and 2 national immunization rounds – targeting around 2.7 million children under 5. These rounds have helped strengthen protection against polio while maintaining high levels of community awareness and trust.
Somalia’s progress in immunization extends beyond polio. In May 2025, Somalia successfully introduced the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and the rotavirus vaccine into its national immunization schedule. Together, these protect children against pneumonia and severe diarrhoea, 2 leading causes of death among Somali children under 5.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
WHO Somalia enhances staff skills to develop impactful health interventions
25 August 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – World Health Organization (WHO) Somalia recently, 20-21 August 2025, completed a lively 2-day professional development training on results-based management (RBM), with a focus on the theory of change (ToC). The sessions aimed to equip technical staff with new skills and tools to plan, monitor, and report on health programmes.
WHO staff from various departments across Somaliland gathered for the training which focused on fostering a unified, results-driven approach and enhancing the Organization’s capacity to develop impactful interventions aligned with national goals and WHO’s regional vision.
Led by the Country Office, the Hargeisa Sub-Office engaged in practical sessions designed to enable teams to improve programme design, strengthen accountability and more effectively highlight WHO Somalia’s role in creating a healthier future.
Comprehensive skill development
On the first day, participants explored RBM and ToC as tools to connect daily work with long-term health outcomes. Through case studies, including on maternal mortality in Djibouti and pneumonia in Somali children, staff practiced building problem trees, solution trees and causal pathways, demonstrating how interventions contribute to measurable impact.
The second day focused on workplan development and management, laying the foundation for a broader training series on award monitoring, reporting and financial accountability. Staff gained hands-on experience developing results-oriented work plans, aligning them with WHO strategic priorities and donor requirements, and applying WHO systems such as GSM.
“The training is important because it helps our teams connect their daily work to long-term results,” said Programme Management Specialist at WHO Somalia Nazik Elshiekh. “By using the theory of change, we can better articulate how our interventions lead to improved health outcomes, while also enhancing accountability to the people we serve.”
Workplan development and management is the first of a 3-part training series. The session equipped participants to develop comprehensive, realistic and results-oriented workplans, align workplans with WHO's strategic objectives and donor agreements, apply RBM principles directly to operational planning and use WHO templates and systems, such as GSM, for workplan development.
Participants reported that the training enhanced their capacity to improve accountability, strengthen donor reporting and increase programme impact. Somaliland Polio Eradication Officer Dr Hussein Abdi said the workshop had also served as a reminder of the importance of accelerating essential health work.
Key takeaways from the training included greater confidence in applying RBM and ToC to Somalia’s health programmes, practical experience in linking strategic objectives to operational work plans with SMART indicators and strengthened accountability and donor reporting capacity across departments.
By strengthening staff capacity, WHO Somalia is reinforcing its commitment to results-driven programming, transparency and impact, helping to ensure that every activity contributes to a healthier future for Somalia’s people.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
WHO supports Somaliland as it finalizes a new operational plan to strengthen public health systems
21 August 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working alongside the Somaliland Ministry of Health Development (MoHD) and partners to improve public health services and strategic planning. A key component of the drive is the development of an operational plan for health priorities to guide health development in Somaliland.
On 18–19 August 2025, WHO Somalia and MoHD held a high-level meeting in Hargeisa to review Somaliland’s health priorities for 2026–2027. Attended by senior Ministry officials, WHO Somalia technical experts and representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), international partners and other key stakeholders, discussions focused on aligning Somaliland’s priorities with partner strategies to ensure a coordinated approach to meeting community health needs.
During the meeting, MoHD officials highlighted the importance of strong collaboration with international partners to achieve national health goals. In response, WHO Somalia pledged ongoing support for Somaliland as it strengthens its health systems, works to ensure access to quality care and advances universal health coverage.
“Working together with WHO on this operational plan is an important move for us as we work to strengthen our health system and meet the real needs of our people,” said the Director of Planning of Somaliland MoHD, Dr Khalid Ali Ahmed. “This plan is a testament to our shared promise to make vital services more accessible and to join forces with partners so that people across Somaliland can lead healthier lives."
The final operational plan will outline a clear, actionable strategy to guide future health interventions and investments, strengthening the health sector's capacity to deliver essential services to all populations, including those in remote and underserved areas.
Aligning health system priorities
The main objective of the meeting was to match the Ministry’s priority goals with those of international partners and local organizations that provide direct support to health services. Alignment is essential to avoid duplication, ensure efficient use of resources and create a single operational framework to guide coordinated action over the next 2 years.
The operational plan will serve as a blueprint for strengthening health systems, shaping future health projects and improving the delivery of essential services. It will set out clear monitoring and implementation mechanisms, helping MoHD and partners track progress, respond to emerging challenges and remain accountable to the government and the communities being served.
By combining strategic planning with staff capacity-building, the initiative aims to enhance the skills and systems necessary to translate health priorities into tangible impact on the ground.
“This plan isn’t just paperwork – it’s a promise to work together for better health in Somaliland. By teaming up with our partners and making sure we’re all moving in the same direction, we can use our resources wisely, help those who need it most and make our communities stronger. WHO is glad to join hands with the Ministry of Health Development and others to turn these goals into real changes for the people of Somaliland,” said WHO Somalia Deputy Representative Dr Kamil Mohamed.
During the 2-day meeting in Hargeisa, WHO and MoHD laid out new health priorities to tackle the most significant gaps in Somaliland’s health system. By coming together, these efforts will lead to:
a finalized and validated operational plan for health priorities 2026–2027;
a clear framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
stronger government ownership and leadership in the health sector;
improved collaboration and coordination among partners; and
enhanced capacity of WHO and MoHD staff to manage and deliver results.
Somalia’s health sector is going through tough times. With funding stretched thin, working together and making the most of every resource matters more than ever in advancing our shared vision of a future in which every community has equitable access to the care they need.
By building strong and resilient health systems, we can protect the well-being of people not just today, but for generations to come.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared,
Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
WHO expands trauma and mental health support to protect Somalia’s health workers
19 August 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – In Somalia’s under-resourced hospitals, trauma patients often arrive to find blood supply and essential medical equipment shortages, trauma teams with limited capacity and inadequate systems in place for handling a surge in trauma patients. During mass casualty incidents these limitations cause delays that put lives at risk.
As violence escalates in parts of Jubaland and Somaliland, Somalia’s emergency health system and first responders face mounting challenges. Health workers, including doctors, nurses, security staff and cleaners, regularly operate under high pressure. They must make critical decisions while managing the emotional and physical demands of repeated exposure to trauma. Over time, this sustained stress can negatively impact their well-being and ability to deliver quality care.
To help alleviate these pressures, World Health Organization (WHO) Somalia launched a trauma preparedness initiative aimed at improving patient outcomes while safeguarding the health and mental well-being of health workers. Supported by the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, the initiative combines delivery of trauma supplies with training in mass casualty management, psychological first aid and trauma-informed care, helping ensure that health workers are equipped, supported and protected as they serve their communities.
The training in Bossaso and Burao brought together 49 frontline staff, including doctors, nurses and support workers, to prepare for high-stress emergencies. Participants practiced triage under pressure and conducted full simulation drills to replicate the chaos of conflict-driven surges. Unlike most emergency trainings in Somalia, the programme guided frontline staff through self-care planning, stress regulation techniques and clinically supervised debriefings to help safeguard their mental health.
“The most encouraging outcome of this workshop was that participants reached a level where they understood the change is for them and their well-being,” said WHO Somalia’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist Uchechi Chukwuma.
In Burao, frontline staff spoke about how the training will help them negotiate the challenges they face working in a region where conflict-related injuries are common. The knowledge and confidence gained from the sessions would empower them to save lives in the most stressful situations.
“This training was crucial for us because Burao General Hospital in Togdheer receives many war-related injuries. Strengthening our skills means we can respond more effectively and save more lives,” said Farhan Ali Osman, who work in the Emergency Department at Burao General Hospital.
In parallel with the training, WHO distributed 32 trauma kits to hospitals across Federal Member States. Many of these facilities are in hard-to-reach or conflict-affected areas, including Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Puntland, Southwest State and Banadir. To speed up emergency response, the kits were pre-positioned at WHO hubs in Hargeisa, Garowe and Mogadishu.
In Bosaso, a full-scale simulation tested clinical response and coordination across departments. Using colour-coded triage wristbands, designated patient zones and phased activation protocols, the drill revealed strong staff cohesion while identifying logistical gaps such as documentation and equipment shortages.
The initiative supports longer-term system strengthening. A draft mass casualty management plan was developed for Bosaso General Hospital which can serve as a model for other regional facilities. Meanwhile, a coordination workshop co-led by WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mogadishu brought together partners to integrate mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence services and trauma protocols into the broader humanitarian response.
WHO Somalia aims to scale this approach to hospitals nationwide. With continued collaboration from the Ministry of Health and key partners, the goal is to reduce trauma-related mortality and morbidity while protecting frontline workers.
The health system can’t heal without its workforce healing too.
For more information:
Myriam Haberecht
Lead External Relations/Communications
WHO Somalia (
Kira Britten, Donor Communications Officer
As Somalia marks World Breastfeeding Week, the government and communities are being urged to strengthen breastfeeding support
3 August 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia joins the rest of the world in marking World Breastfeeding Week, held annually from 1–7 August.
This year’s theme, Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems, recognizes the barriers that breastfeeding mothers face – inadequate support, misinformation and systemic challenges that include a lack of paid time off from work to breastfeed, of parental leave after the baby is born, and inadequate protection from marketing of breastmilk substitutes – and calls on the government, the health system, workplaces and communities to build enduring, equitable frameworks that support breastfeeding mothers and empower families.
Speaking at a commemorative event in Mogadishu this morning, Health Minister Dr Ali Haji Adam noted how breastfeeding delivers lifelong benefits, not just for children but for mothers, families and communities.
“The government is committed to creating sustainable support systems that protect, promote and enable breastfeeding across the country,” he said. “We will continue to implement policies that strengthen maternal health services, train frontline workers, raise awareness and ensure mothers have the support they need at home, in health facilities and the workplace. As we mark World Breastfeeding Week, we reaffirm our promise to build an environment where every mother feels empowered to give her child the healthiest possible start in life.”
“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to give children a healthy start – improving cognitive development, strengthening immunity and protecting both infants and mothers from chronic diseases,” said World Health Organization (WHO) Somalia Deputy Representative Dr Kamil Mohamed. “But mothers cannot do it alone. We must create sustainable support systems through quality health services, family-friendly workplace policies and stronger legal protections against the unethical marketing of breastmilk substitutes.”
Breastfeeding is more than a feeding choice. Fully integrated across policies, health systems, workplaces and communities, it becomes a pillar of sustainable development.
“We owe it to babies, the future generation of citizens, and to ourselves to ensure that they have the best start in life through exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years,” said United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative Sandra Lattouf. “The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any perceived negatives by a long mile. We need to ensure that every mother, her family and the child are supported throughout their breastfeeding journey with the knowledge, resources and encouragement they need. A healthy and thriving child is an asset for the family and nation.”
A sustainable breastfeeding system requires an all-of-society approach that ensures every mother has the support, environment and resources to breastfeed successfully, from conception through the first 2 years of the child’s life and beyond.
This year, World Breastfeeding Week aims to inform Somali citizens about their role in creating supportive and sustainable environments for breastfeeding. Key objectives include promoting family-friendly workplace policies such as paid maternity leave and breastfeeding breaks, empowering communities through peer support networks and culturally sensitive education and advocating for policies that protect breastfeeding from commercial influence and misinformation.
In Somalia, while 6 in 10 children are breastfed within an hour of birth, just 1 in 3 babies are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life.
A major reason for the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding is the absence of legal measures against the unethical marketing of breastmilk substitutes, which are advertised as an alternative to breastfeeding. Somalia has made minimum progress in adopting the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes which restricts the marketing of products intended to replace breastmilk, protecting mothers from commercial influence on their infant feeding choices.
Adoption of the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes is part of Somalia’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child which it ratified in 2015. Renewed efforts are urgently needed to fully adopt the Code of Marketing and bring Somalia in line with countries that have a comprehensive and enforceable legal framework that protects babies and mothers from the marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
Media contacts:
Mohamed Osman, MoH Head of Communications,
Victor Chinyama, UNICEF Chief of Communication,
Khadar Hared, WHO Communication focal point,
Newly released data shows Somalia making notable progress in child immunization
15 July 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – The annual World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released today reports that 70% of children in Somalia are fully vaccinated, an increase of 28% between 2012 to 2024, with steady improvements registered across all antigens since 2019.
WUENIC presents country level immunization datasets on key infant and childhood vaccinations, allowing the identification of areas where progress has been made, where opportunities remain and where immunization coverage has declined.
Somalia has invested heavily in upping coverage rates. In 2024, the accelerated Big Catch-Up initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO, targeted zero-dose children – those who have never received a single vaccine – and children with partial (incomplete) vaccination. This year, multiple vaccination campaigns have been held, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus vaccines introduced to address childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea, the leading causes of death in children under 5 in Somalia.
“Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that prevents vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Minister of Health and Human Services H.E. Dr. Ali Haji Adam. “To continue strengthening the health system in Somalia we must enhance the capabilities of our frontline health workers and increase efforts to create awareness in communities about lifesaving vaccines. We all have more work to do.”
Expanding routine immunization coverage in Somalia has long been hampered by ongoing conflict, displacement, inaccessibility and limited health infrastructure. For decades coverage was below 50%, leaving an estimated 1.5 million children missing out on vaccines. It is encouraging to note that through the Big Catch-Up, nearly 700 000 zero-dose children received their first dose of pentavalent vaccine which protects against potentially fatal diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough.
“Alongside the Big Catch-Up campaigns, Somalia has strengthened routine immunization through outreach to underserved areas in collaboration with neighbouring countries, and with the recent introduction of 2 new lifesaving vaccines, PCV and rotavirus. These efforts are vital, as over 1.5 million children have missed essential vaccines. Intensified action continues to address the ongoing polio outbreak that began in 2017,” said WHO Representative in Somalia Dr Renee Van de Weerdt.
Reliable data is a crucial pillar of any health system. To strengthen data quality, UNICEF, in collaboration with WHO, supported the Federal Ministry of Health in conducting a nationwide data quality improvement exercise across all districts and health facilities. This initiative, combined with investments in the overall immunization system and advocacy efforts, resulted in a significant improvement in data quality and vaccination rates.
“Investments and coordinated efforts to strengthen Somalia’s child immunization programme are yielding high results,” said UNICEF Acting Representative in Somalia Nisar Syed. “For example, UNICEF is leading on improving vaccine storage capacity and the ability to keep them at the right temperature. To date, 90% of health facilities providing vaccinations have been equipped with solar-powered refrigeration. Together with the ministries of health, our dedicated partners and resilient health workers, children are being reached with lifesaving vaccines, even in some of the most difficult and hard-to-reach places.”
WUENIC 2024 findings that the number of zero-dose children has decreased in countries that, like Somalia, are supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, underscores the importance of investing in immunization. Key partners, including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the World Bank and the Gates Foundation have been instrumental in improving child survival rates.
Now is the time to build on these gains and sustain momentum towards the Immunization Agenda 2030 which aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines to improve health and well-being.
View the WUENIC report here
For more information, contact:
Mohamed Osman, Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services Head of Communication and Public Engagement,
Lisa Hill, UNICEF Somalia Communication Specialist,
Khadar Hared, WHO Somalia Communication Officer,
A shot at a healthier future: Somali mothers embrace lifesaving vaccines for their children
30 June 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – Mothers visited the Hamar Jajab Maternal and Child Health Centre in Banadir region on a hot morning in May, babies cradled in one arm, toddlers clinging to the other, to join the queues of caregivers waiting under the shade of a big tree inside the facility, all hoping to get their children vaccinated.
The Centre is among 8653 fixed sites that co-delivered measles, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and polio vaccines as part of the first integrated campaign of its kind to protect Somali children from measles, pneumonia, and polio.
Translating government willpower into action
The integrated campaign provides a model of how to translate political commitment into action and safeguard children from preventable diseases.
In April 2025, Somalia introduced the PCV into the national immunization programme in an initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners. Simultaneously, there has been high-level commitment to respond to poliovirus as soon as it is detected.
As part of the integrated campaign, health workers provided measles and PCV vaccines to children across the country, while in Somaliland, Puntland, and parts of Galmudug, oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) was administered to children to combat the spread of variant poliovirus detected in December 2024
These campaigns provided measles vaccines to 3.3 million children aged between 6 months and five years, PCV to 2.6 million children aged between 1 and 5 years, and polio vaccine to 1.6 million children aged under 5 years, improving immunization coverage, reducing the risk of outbreaks and contributing to a healthier future for Somalia’s children.
Mothers’ relief at having access to a suite of vaccines
Mulki Osman Ali, a 26-year-old mother of 2 – a son aged 2 and a daughter just over one-and-a-half years old – was among the mothers present at the health centre in Hamar Jajab. She explained this was the first time her children had the opportunity to receive the PCV and rotavirus vaccines.
“For a long time, I worried that my children were missing out on important vaccines that children in other countries receive,” she said. “When I heard these vaccines were finally available in the country, I didn’t wait. I wanted to be among the first to protect my children from diseases that have claimed the lives of so many others.”
Her words reflect the commitment of Somali parents who are determined to give their children a healthier, safer future.
Outreach campaign in remote areas
Health workers, including supervisors from WHO Somalia and other partners who helped oversee the campaign, worked tirelessly to deliver the vaccines and ensure the campaign’s success.
In remote and underserved areas, where communities have limited access to health care services, outreach and mobile strategies played a crucial role in reaching and protecting children from life-threatening diseases.
“We administered 3 vaccines to children, to protect children against measles, polio and pneumonia. Measles is currently widespread in the country, and we reached many parents and children who hadn’t been able to reach health facilities. By going into their neighbourhoods, we provided opportunities for more children to be vaccinated. These vaccines help prevent outbreaks of poliovirus and respiratory infections that can develop into pneumonia. Parents believe in the benefits of vaccination. During the integrated vaccination campaign we vaccinated many children, sometimes reaching over 100 individuals, in a day” said Ladan Ahmed, a health worker in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Community trust in local health workers is a cornerstone of successful vaccination efforts, in a society where both parents play crucial roles in ensuring children can access health care.
“I’ve always made sure my children are vaccinated. I have 3 children — 11, 9 and 3 years old. Today, my youngest just received his vaccines. Vaccines protect children from measles, and many other illnesses. I encourage all mothers to vaccinate their children. The health worker is someone we know and trust. They visit us regularly and are always ready to help,” said Gudon Omar Yusuf.
Though challenges persist, Somalia is making strides in its vaccination efforts thanks to the leadership of the health authorities with the support of Gavi, WHO and UNICEF Somalia and many other partners.
Strengthened trust in health workers, coupled with expanded outreach to remote communities, is closing immunization gaps, leading the shift towards protecting more children and promoting long-term health throughout the country.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
