UN funded health facilities to close over funding in Somalia, WHO warns

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, WHO, has warned it may no longer be able to provide life-saving health services in Somalia following declining humanitarian funding for the country.

WHO said the humanitarian funding for 2015 and the forecast for 2016 has significantly gone down making it difficult for health facilities to operate in various parts of the country. Despite continued early warnings and appeals for timely and adequate funding, health is currently funded at 8.5%, the lowest since 2008,” says the global body.

In a statement Friday, WHO said the lack of funding for UN’s humanitarian response plan in 2015 has left more than 1.5 million people cut off from primary or secondary health care services. ” As of July 2015, out of a required $71.5 million, only $6.1 million (8.5 per cent) has been received, the lowest since 2008, despite ongoing early warnings and appeals for adequate funding,” warned WHO.
Risk of closure
Over the past 3 months, at least 10 hospitals in Somalia have either been closed or have majorly curtailed their services across the country, and at least 3 other hospitals are at risk of closure in the near future. Basic health posts and clinics are currently struggling to meet primary health needs, and many aid agencies have withdrawn health workers from high-need areas.

As a result a number of medical services have been suspended in many parts of the country. International Medical Corps suspended secondary health care services at Beletweyne Hospital earlier this year due to lack of funds; CESVI is at risk of phasing out its support to the hospital’s outpatient department next September.
Medecins du Monde will be unable to support Bossasso Hospital by the end of the year and so will Intersos in Johwar Regional hospital by December, among a number of other emergency health services according to WHO.

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