MIDA Health Northern Somalia, Phase 3 (second additional funding)

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

The aim of the project is to strengthen the health sector in Northern Somalia (Puntland and Somaliland) by developing the human resources of health sector institutions. The project aims to build the capacity of the health sector by using the health professionals of Somali diaspora, particularly the Finnish Somali diaspora, who travel to the region to build the capacity of health sector institutions. The overall objective is to contribute to improved health outcomes in Puntland and Somaliland. A special emphasis will be given to initiatives that focus on improving the health services for women and children. The project is implemented by IOM (International Organization for Migration). The project is in its third and last phase. Since 2008, the project has been building the capacity of carious health sector institutions in Northern Somalia. Over 700 local healthcare workers have benefited from the on-the-job training provided by voluntary experts. Under the initiative and leadership of voluntary experts, a dental clinic, an intensive care unit and a hemodialysis unit have been established at the Hargeisa Group Hospital. These are the only units providing such public services in whole Somalia. A project voluntary expert also led a team in drafting a legal framework for accreditation of health professionals in Somaliland, which led to the signing into law of the Health Regulatoru Act. The Unit for Eastern and Western Africa proposes that the project receives 300.000€ additional funding, which will be used from August 2016 until March 2017. The total budget of the project will then be 3 400 000 euros for 2014-2017.