Somali National News Agency
So
Ar
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
    Local NewsShow More
    Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing
    August 8, 2025
    Somalia Sends Statement of Condolence and Solidarity to the Republic of Ghana
    August 8, 2025
    Minister of Health Highlights Major Hospital Rehabilitation and Construction Efforts
    August 8, 2025
    NISA Special Forces Eliminate Senior Al-Shabaab Commanders in Bariire Operation
    August 8, 2025
    Somalia Honors 31 Military Officers Awarded Scholarships from China
    August 8, 2025
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Israel kills aid worker in Gaza amid rising starvation deaths, US envoy meets with hostages’ families
    August 3, 2025
    Ghana Donates 40 Metric Tonnes of Cocoa to Palestine in Act of Solidarity
    August 2, 2025
    Seven people in critical condition after car ramming at LA nightclub
    July 20, 2025
    Tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, killing 37
    July 20, 2025
    Israel kills more than 50 in Gaza as UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’
    July 19, 2025
  • Articles
    ArticlesShow More
    Somali and Allied Forces Deal Major Blow to Al-Shabaab in Coordinated Offensive
    August 6, 2025
    Somalia’s Financial War Against Al-Shabaab: Key Achievements and Strategic Milestones (2022–2025)
    August 4, 2025
    H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali Dhaay: Driving Somalia’s Diplomatic Renewal and International Partnerships
    August 4, 2025
    National ID Enforcement in Somalia: A Strategic Plan to boost the Country’s Economy
    July 31, 2025
    The Return of the White Star: Somali Airlines Resumes Operations After Three Decades
    July 29, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Somalia Unveils the Blueprint for a Modern and Sustainable Mogadishu
    December 21, 2024
    Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change
    November 25, 2024
    FM meets Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
    October 28, 2024
    President Hassan Sheikh Inaugurates New LPG Storage Center in Mogadishu
    May 12, 2024
    Collaboration of ICT transformation for digital Infrastructure
    October 24, 2023
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Mogadishu Stadium to Host Star-Studded Match Featuring Somali Legends and International Football Icons
    May 27, 2025
    Arsenal held at Brighton while Man City bounce-back continues
    January 5, 2025
    Galmudug wins the Inter-State Football Tournament
    January 29, 2024
    Somalia set for two int’l friendlies ahead of WC qualifier clashes against Algeria and Uganda
    October 10, 2023
    Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver
    October 3, 2023
  • Tenders
    TendersShow More
Reading: Somalia, UN vow to hasten universal health coverage
Share
Font ResizerAa
Somali National News AgencySomali National News Agency
  • SOMALI
  • ARABIC
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
Follow US
©2023 || All rights reserved SONNA
Somali National News Agency > Blog > News > Somalia, UN vow to hasten universal health coverage
NewsWorld News

Somalia, UN vow to hasten universal health coverage

By admin
Last updated: December 14, 2020
4 Min Read
Share

Somalia and the United Nations (UN) on Saturday renewed commitment to accelerate efforts to provide universal health coverage (UHC) for all Somalis.

The government in collaboration with the UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners also urged other health and development partners to do the same.

Mamunur Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu to mark the International Universal Health Coverage Day that close to 2.6 million of the most vulnerable Somalis are in need of healthcare.

“By renewing our commitment to work closely together as agencies and with the government, streamlining our efforts, and using innovative measures to provide health care and social security for all, we can ensure Somali households, particularly vulnerable populations, have access to life-saving health services,” said Malik.

He said Somalia has already created a strong foundation of health personnel, some of whom deliver life-saving vaccines to children at household level, respond to health emergencies and support women of reproductive age among other work they do.

“We just need to support the country to build on existing systems and infrastructure — but we must take bold actions together, and now, to build back better and stronger and advance universal health coverage,” Malik said.

According to the UN, investments made in training and supporting healthcare workers have also paid off, noting that the number of deliveries by skilled birth attendants has increased from 22 percent in 2010 to an estimated 29 percent in 2017, and around 650,000 children are receiving life-saving vaccines every year.

The UN said universal health coverage ensures all people everywhere, no matter where they live, have equitable access to quality health services they need, without suffering financial hardship.

It will strengthen health systems so that people can access vital health services even amid health emergencies, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and will enable Somalis to access health services based on their needs, not on their ability to pay.

Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Somalia Representative said Somalia is making strides towards ensuring that no woman or baby dies at birth, which is reflected in the reduced maternal mortality rate, which has been one of the worst worldwide.

“We will continue to work with the Federal Government of Somalia to ensure mothers feel safe while delivering their babies in Somalia,” Thomsen said.

Jesper Moller, acting representative, UNICEF Somalia said while some progress has been made, still too many disadvantaged Somali women and children are dying every day, largely from preventable causes.

Moller said most of these deaths could have been avoided if vulnerable communities had access to basic health services.

“We commend the Somali government for prioritizing the most vulnerable in their efforts to achieve universal health care for all. Providing quality health care for children, especially during their first two years in life, will help them survive and thrive so they can reach their full potential,” he added.

Findings from the Somali Health and Demographic Survey 2020 show a reduction in maternal mortality (from 732 to 692 deaths per 100,000 live births).

However, they also show that the uptake of antenatal care and delivery at health facilities is still low.

According to the survey, only 24 percent of women made four or more visits to a health facility in their last pregnancy, and 21 percent delivered at a health facility.

These two indicators are fundamental to the improvement of maternal health outcomes and to the success of universal health coverage at large.

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

MORE NEWS

Official Reopening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives

CultureEducationLocal News
November 23, 2024

Kenya’s small farmers find respite in avocados amid changing climate

NAIROBI(SONNA) As crop diseases and pests rise in Kenya amid a rapidly changing climate that…

March 11, 2023

Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing

Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing Mogadishu, Friday, 8th August, 2025 1- President Hassan Sheikh…

August 8, 2025

Nimcaan Hilaac appointed to lead Waberi National Band

Mogadishu (SONNA)-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed…

March 3, 2020

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Somali Security Minister meets Qatar PM

Doha(SONNA)-Minister of Internal Security of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H. E. Hassan Hundubey Jimale on Wednesday met Qatari Prime…

News
March 17, 2021

Stampede at Ramadan food distribution centre kills 11 in Pakistan

SONNA - A stampede at a Ramadan food distribution centre in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi has killed at least…

World News
April 1, 2023

Hezbollah fires ‘340 missiles’ at Israel, hits Ashdod naval base, Tel Aviv

Hezbollah says it targeted the Ashdod naval base in southern Israel “for the first time”, adding that it conducted an…

World News
November 25, 2024

Suicide bomb attack injures 6 people in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (SONNA)-Suicide car bomb attack injured 6 people including four security servicemen near the Mogadishu port early on Saturday morning,…

News
July 4, 2020

Somali National News Agency established in 1964. It is one of the main pillars of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
  • SNTV
  • RADIO MOGADISHU
  • DALKA JOURNAL
  • TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Follow US: 

  • MoICT
  • VILLA SOMALIA
  • OPM SOMALIA

All rights reserved SONNA

©2023

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?