Coronavirus - Somalia: COVID-19 ventilators provided to help Somalia fight pandemic
The donation comes against the backdrop of daily increases in number of COVID-19 cases in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 2, 2020/ --
Ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients are being supplied by IOM, the
International Organization for Migration, to help thousands
of Somalis affected by the disease.
The ventilators, donated to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), and funded by the multi-donor Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), will be used to set up an intensive care unit at the De Martino Hospital, the main
public hospital in the country’s capital designated by the country’s
Ministry of Health to treat COVID-19 cases .
The donation comes against the backdrop of daily increases in number of
COVID-19 cases in Somalia. So far over 1,976 people have tested positive and nearly 80 have died. The country has the second highest number of
positive cases in East and Horn of Africa. The FGS has in place a health taskforce to fight the disease. It suspended all international and
domestic flights, and established isolation facilities to try and
mitigate exposure to the infection, when the first case was reported on
March 16.
Somalia’s health system infrastructure remains extremely fragile. There
are only nine ventilators in the hospital that will receive the
donation, insufficient to face a major outbreak.
“With this donation, hospital capacity will be strengthened to save
lives, protect its workers and provide better healthcare to those in
critical conditions due to the virus,” said H.E Dr. Fawziya Abikar Nur,
Minister for Health and Human Services. During the handover ceremony
held at the hospital today (02 June)in Mogadishu, the Minister added:
“We appreciate the crucial support provided by IOM, SHF and all other
partners working with the Federal Government of Somalia to contain the
spread COVID-19 and to provide life-saving treatment to our people.”
With the SHF funding, IOM is also providing medical specialists, and
donating medical equipment such as personal protective equipment,
including masks and gloves, to help the government’s COVID-19 response.
Due to the large population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Somalia—2.6 million in displacement camps across the country, half of them in Mogadishu—the pandemic poses a substantial threat.
“IDPs are among the most vulnerable if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in a settlement,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the
Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia,
Mr. Adam Abdelmoula. “The conditions in IDP camps, including the lack of sanitation and WASH facilities, threat of evictions and lack of access
to health care facilities, could create a dangerous environment that
would accelerate the spread of the virus.”
The UN in Somalia is committed to work with the authorities to ensure
the needs of the most vulnerable groups are addressed. This includes
immediate assistance, such as food and cash distribution, and
longer-term support, such as providing livelihood opportunities and
strengthening the social protection networks.
The De Martino Hospital in Mogadishu provides free health care to IDPs
and other vulnerable groups. According to Director of Hospital Dr
Abdirizak Yusuf Ahmed: “This hospital is one of the only health
facilities in Mogadishu that is accessible for people without resources. If we want to beat COVID-19 in Somalia everyone should have equal
access to treatment.”
As the leading UN agency for border control and psychosocial care, IOM
is conducting capacity building training on COVID-19 prevention and
treatment and distributing medical equipment, supplies and hygiene kits. IOM is also deploying Somali expatriate medical experts to fill gaps in health facilities across the country.
Just before the Eid festivities ending Ramadan, IOM launched #SomaliaResponds in partnership with the Ministry of Health, an individual giving campaign
to raise funds and support the De Martino Hospital and other medical
facilities in Somalia. The goal is to raise USD 100,000 to buy the
necessary equipment and supplies to meet the needs of those affected by
the disease.
“IOM will continue supporting the health authorities in Somalia to
ensure that no one is left behind in the COVID-19 response,” said
Richard Danziger, Chief of Mission for IOM Somalia.
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