Health

Every child has the right to survive and thrive

mother-and-baby-with-health-worker
UNICEF Somalia/2019/Naftalin

Challenge

Four in 100 Somali children die during the first month of life, eight in 100 before their first birthday, and 1 in 8 before they turn five.

A fair chance in life begins with a strong, healthy start. Unfortunately, many children in Somalia are still deprived of this. 4 in 100 Somali children die during the first month of life, 8 in 100 before their first birthday, and 1 in 8 before they turn five. This accounts for more than 60 percent of the under-five deaths in the country. In addition to this, 1 in 20 women aged 15-49 die due to pregnancy- or birth-related complications every year.

Each of these deaths is a tragedy, especially because a majority of them could have been prevented. 

More than 80 percent of newborn deaths are due to prematurity, asphyxia, complications during birth, or infections such as pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and neonatal disorders. These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives and nurses during antenatal and postnatal visits and delivering at a health facility. Additionally, access to clean water, and disinfectants, handwashing, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition are proven solutions. Too often, these simple cost-effective interventions are out of reach of the mothers and babies who need them most.

Too often simple cost-effective interventions are out of reach of the mothers and babies who need them most.

Low immunization levels and inadequate access to quality healthcare and life-saving supplies erode children’s chances of surviving past infancy and developing to their full potential.

The health risks for children in emergencies are higher. Life-saving health services are often unobtainable or unreachable, making newborns, children, young people and mothers especially vulnerable to harm.

infant
UNICEF/UNI218212/Hinds; Yoruba Abdirahman Jama holds her newborn baby at Gambool Health Centre in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia.

Solution

UNICEF partners with the Government of Somalia to strengthen national capacity to deliver high quality maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health services.

We support primary healthcare, particularly at the community level, to help achieve universal health coverage in Somalia. We also work with partners to strengthen health systems to deliver integrated and innovative services for Somali children, youths and women of reproductive age. The following are at the heart of our efforts to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths in Somalia:

We also support the Government’s efforts to tackle health challenges in places affected by the ongoing conflict and natural disasters and to develop resilient health systems that can withstand crises.

Embedded video follows
UNICEF Somalia

Resources

Reports, publications and other resources

From insight to action: mortality patterns in Somalia

New study estimates that 71,000 drought-related “excess” deaths may have occurred in Somalia between 2022-2024

See the full report

Somalia Cholera Situation 2024

UNICEF and partners prepare and respond

See the full report

Somalia Humanitarian Cluster Results

Main sectors of humanitarian action

See the full report

Humanitarian situation reports 2021

Monthly snapshot of current needs and response - concise operational documents to support the coordination of the humanitarian response.

See the full report

Read more

Digitizing care: Redefining healthcare through innovation

From paper to digital, Galkayo Health Centre leads the way in modernizing healthcare services

Read the story

On the frontlines in Bossaso

Fadumo Mire’s lifesaving mission at Isniino Health Centre

Read the story