Somalia Outlines National Cholera Response at Africa Health Summit

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Federal Government of Somalia’s Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr. Ali Haaji Aaden, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting cholera, as the country continues to battle a growing number of cases, particularly among young children.

Speaking during a high-level virtual summit hosted by Zambia and supported by Africa CDC, WHO, and UNICEF, Dr. Aaden presented Somalia’s national efforts to contain the disease.

He highlighted initiatives including improved surveillance, emergency response teams, risk communication, access to clean water, and targeted health campaigns in hotspot areas.

The Minister revealed that Somalia has recorded more than 25,000 cholera cases and 138 deaths since the beginning of 2024, with over 4,400 cases reported in 19 districts in the first five months of 2025 alone.

Alarmingly, around 65% of cases involve children under the age of five.

“Cholera remains a public health emergency that threatens our most vulnerable, especially children,” Dr. Aaden said. “We are scaling up prevention and treatment efforts in coordination with local and international partners.”

He also stressed the role of climate shocks, displacement, and poor sanitation in fueling outbreaks and called for stronger cross-border collaboration to curb the spread of the disease in the region.

The Ministry of Health pledged to continue working with humanitarian agencies and frontline workers to reduce cholera’s impact and build long-term resilience in affected communities.