Somalia - A health post established by IOM, with support from Somaliland’s Ministry of Resettlement Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, UN Habitat and Somaliland’s Ministry of Health in Hargeisa, opened yesterday (21/8) in the Ayah 4 settlement for relocated internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The Japanese-funded project, which will benefit some 2,500 IDPs, will provide essential primary health care services for relocated and integrated ex-IDPs, including routine consultations, safe motherhood services, nutrition, control of communicable diseases and immunization.

Until yesterday, Ayah 4 residents had to walk for over nine kilometers to the city to receive free healthcare services or seek out often unaffordable private clinics.

The most common illnesses at the site are respiratory infectious diseases, urinary tract infections and acute watery diarrhea, especially among children. 

In order to build the capacity of the government’s health system, IOM hired staff from the Ministry of Health and provided them with training and technical support. In Somaliland, most health facilities are managed by non-governmental organizations.

“For many years I could not afford to go to the private hospital several kilometers away. Now I can walk a few minutes to this health post and receive free medical attention. This is the first time that we have a health facility right at our doorstep,” says Ayah 4 resident Amina Sigat, 32.

“The services provided by this health post will reduce the burden on the government hospital in the city and this initiative should be a model for future health facilities, ensuring public services are available for relocated and integrated IDPs,” says Mohamoud Jibril Younis, the Director General of Somaliland’s Ministry of Resettlement Rehabilitation & Reconstruction.

IOM, in collaboration with the regional authorities, is establishing similar health facilities and mobile clinics in other locations in Somalia and is expected to eventually expand the programme to reach another 100,000 migrants and mobile populations, as well as affected host communities.

For more information please contact

Dr. Samir Hadjiabduli
IOM Somalia
Tel: +252 24686285
Email: shadjiabduli@iom.int