EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Like all sectors in Somalia, the health sector is facing challenges arising from the erosion of national infrastructure, capacities and systems during years of conflict and civil war. The challenges include high levels of poverty, lack of security, lack of access to health services, poor nutritional status of the population, the low status of women and high rates of female genital mutilation, high fertility rates, low immunization rates, lack of access to portable water and safe sanitation, poor health behaviours and - increasingly - unhealthy life styles. However, the Somali people are resilient and have started to rebuild the country including the health sector. Accordingly, a Health Sector Strategic Plan has been designed to guide the building of the Somali government’s capacity to improve access to health services for the people of Somalia. The plan establishes a realistic and clear framework for allocation of national resources as well as a means to improve the allocation and effectiveness of external support for the sector. The development of plan considered a wide range of policies, disease outbreaks, the changing climatic conditions and issues related to international health regulations. It also considers the international treaties and conventions to which Somalia is signatory especially (i) the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and (ii) the International Health Partnerships and related Initiatives (IHP+) which seek to achieve better health results and provide a framework for increased aid effectiveness.
Like all sectors in Somalia, the health sector is facing challenges arising from the erosion of national infrastructure, capacities and systems during years of conflict and civil war. The challenges include high levels of poverty, lack of security, lack of access to health services, poor nutritional status of the population, the low status of women and high rates of female genital mutilation, high fertility rates, low immunization rates, lack of access to portable water and safe sanitation, poor health behaviours and - increasingly - unhealthy life styles. However, the Somali people are resilient and have started to rebuild the country including the health sector. Accordingly, a Health Sector Strategic Plan has been designed to guide the building of the Somali government’s capacity to improve access to health services for the people of Somalia. The plan establishes a realistic and clear framework for allocation of national resources as well as a means to improve the allocation and effectiveness of external support for the sector. The development of plan considered a wide range of policies, disease outbreaks, the changing climatic conditions and issues related to international health regulations. It also considers the international treaties and conventions to which Somalia is signatory especially (i) the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and (ii) the International Health Partnerships and related Initiatives (IHP+) which seek to achieve better health results and provide a framework for increased aid effectiveness.
