Dr. Mariam Mohammed Hussein, Somalia’s minister of state for Health and Human Services, has called on the Somali community in Uganda to take proactive measures against the spread of communicable diseases.
Speaking to Bbeg Media on the sidelines of the IGAD conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Dr. Hussein, accompanied by a six-member delegation from Mogadishu, emphasized the importance of health precautions.
“I urge my brothers and sisters residing in Uganda to prioritize health measures such as immunization, early screening, and treatment of communicable diseases that affect our people, both here and back home in Somalia,” she said.
Dr. Hussein said Somalia, like many countries, faces significant challenges from diseases such as polio, measles, diphtheria, and typhoid. She stressed that collaboration with regional blocs like IGAD is a top priority for strengthening health systems and improving case management to address these health challenges effectively.
The minister noted that Somalia has been particularly vulnerable to disease outbreaks, exacerbated by donor fatigue affecting many developing nations’ health systems.
She reaffirmed the Somali government’s commitment to supporting IGAD’s preparedness projects to counter future pandemics, such as COVID-19, Ebola, and cholera, which have claimed millions of lives, including children and the elderly.
Dr. Hussein also extended an invitation to donor agencies to collaborate with the Somali government to enhance efforts against communicable diseases through improved surveillance, early warning systems, immunization, information sharing, data collection, and human resource capacity building.
As a member of the IGAD family, Somalia is recovering from years of conflict, child malnutrition, threats to medical workers’ safety, and shortages of medical supplies due to war. These challenges have compounded the country’s efforts to manage public health effectively.
