Author: Web Desk

The Federal Government of Somalia through its Ministry of Health and Human Services launched a new project aimed at strengthening the medical emergency services at federal and state referral hospitals, particularly critical care capacities.

With a budget of US$11.4 million, funded by the World Bank under the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project (SCRP), this collaborative initiative comes as the country’s health system grapples with high levels of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including injuries, and disabilities caused by ongoing conflict and widespread use of improvised explosive devices.

The project called ‘Strengthening the Medical Emergency Services at Federal and State Referral Hospitals’ will be delivered through the United Nations’s World Health Organization (WHO).

“We have started important work to strengthen Somalia’s emergency healthcare through the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project. By upgrading facilities, training staff and coordinating health services, we are building sustainable capacity to respond to health crises and serve citizens across the country. This targeted support will have a significant impact on Somalia’s healthcare system both now and in the future.” Abdi Tawane, Co-Project Manager of the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project, stated.

The focus of this project is the establishment and operationalization of emergency, critical and operative care services in eight selected hospitals across the country. These will enable the hospitals to properly function as regional referral hospitals, delivering emergency and critical care services as part of the Government’s vision for delivering integrated health services defined by the Essential Package for Health Services (EPHS 2020) of Somalia.

“Close collaboration among all partners and open reporting to our Project Implementation Unit will be vital to demonstrate governance and maximize outcomes for Somali citizens. With transparency and shared commitment, I’m hopeful this project will save many lives while also sustaining public trust in our institutions.” Said Saleiman Sheik Umar, Director General of the Ministry of Finance.

This project also seeks to strengthen the referral mechanisms between primary health care and other higher levels of healthcare in the country for critical care support thereby establishing a model integrated health care delivery system that are essential to meet every people’s health needs across the life course.

“This crucial component of the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project builds on the strong partnership between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, the World Bank, and WHO in Somalia,” said H.E. Dr Ali Hadji Adan Abubakar, Minister of Health and Human Services, Federal Government of Somalia. “Somalia made great strides during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen national capacity to prepare, respond, and recover from public health crises, with the support of partners like WHO and the World Bank. More action is needed to meet the immediate needs of the population and strengthen surveillance and laboratory systems to detect and respond to emerging public health threats.”

Through its various components, the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project (SCRP) is a holistic programme supporting recovery from past disasters while enhancing resilience to future shocks. The SCRP recognizes the importance of bolstering the country’s health system as it responds to climate and conflict-related crises. Through Component 3, the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is working closely with the Ministry of Health to pilot approaches for building resilience in the health sector. This includes establishing emergency telehealth networks to ensure remote populations can access care during disasters, upgrading disease early warning systems to predict outbreaks, and training community health workers in first aid and trauma response. By helping Somalia’s health system withstand future climate shocks through innovative capacity building like this, the project aims to lay the groundwork for more resilient healthcare nationwide and support the basic right to health for all Somalis in this challenging context.

Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Somalia, recognized the commitment of the Federal and State Ministries of Health, saying, “Using a health system approach, this project will underscore the need for greater investment in emergency and critical care services in Somalia as has been highlighted in the recent resolution of WHA76.2 for improving integrated emergency, critical and operative care services as continuum of care which is an important ingredient for achieving universal health coverage. Improving these services will also enable the country to be better prepared and ready to manage critical care patients for any future pandemics and also promote the enjoyment of health as human rights.”

The kick-off meeting comprised an official launch followed by a deep dive discussion about the project implementation between WHO, the project implementation unit at the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Health, and Federal Member States. Participants reviewed the project implementation plan and agreed to collaborate closely to ensure the achievement of project development goals and objectives as per the timeline agreed upon by the government and partners in strengthening of critical care units across Somalia.

Source: Somali National News Agency

At least 2,012 people were killed and 2,059 injured following a powerful earthquake that struck Morocco, the country’s Interior Ministry said Saturday.

Rescuers searching for survivors dug through the rubble of collapsed houses in remote mountain villages of Morocco on Saturday, as armed forces were pressed into action in the wake of the country’s deadliest earthquake in more than 60 years.

The injuries include 1,404 critical cases.

Fatalities from the magnitude-7 quake occurred in various regions, including El-Houz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Tiznit, Marrakech, Azilal, Agadir, Casablanca and Youssoufia, the ministry said in a statement.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Morocco has soared to more than 2,000, with a similar number of injured.

The interior ministry says more than 1,400 have serious injuries, and the heaviest casualties are in provinces just south of Marrakesh.

King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning and ordered shelter, food and other help for survivors.

Many people are spending a second night out in the open.

The magnitude 6.8 quake hit Marrakesh and many towns on Friday night. In remote mountain areas, entire villages are reported to have been flattened.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Somali National Army on Sunday killed over 20 Al-Shabaab terrorists in Awdhegle district in the Lower Shabelle region.

Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-adala told the Somali National News Agency SONNA that the forces recovered weapons during the operation, saying the terrorists could not even collect their dead bodies as they were defeated.

“Our forces killed over 20 Khawarij fighters including senior commanders and forced them to flee from their dead bodies. We are committed to destroying the terrorist network in this region and throughout the country”, he said.

The operation comes days before the Government plans to launch the second phase of the total war on the group fighters in the country.

SONNA learned and obtained more horrific photos from the battlefield, showing how the terrorist militants were defeated in today’s operation near Afgoye district in the same region.

Source: Somali National News Agency

Mogadishu: Al-Shabaab militants suffered heavy casualties in an attempted ambush on a government position in the Aw-Dheegle district of the Lower Shabelle region today. The Somali National Army, supported by international partners, fulfilled their duties with excellence, eliminating more than 60 militant members.

Eyewitnesses report a grim aftermath, with the militants’ lifeless bodies strewn across the roads. The militants, armed to the teeth, initiated the confrontation with the intent to inflict widespread harm on both civilians and the military.

This operation underscores the government’s resolute dedication to promptly quell any threat that endangers its people and armed forces. The national army’s impressive performance echoes its past victories in the ongoing battle against terrorism in the central regions.

The Federal Government of Somalia delivers a stern message to the Khawaarijterrorists. The Somali National Army stands poised to confront them, anytime, anywhere, with particular vigilance in Lower Shabelle, an area that has witnessed frequent militant attacks, including harrowing car bombings. Concurrently, the struggle continues in Galmudug and HirShabelle, as the nation stands united against this persistent menace.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Federal Republic of Somalia signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty on 8 September in a signing ceremony in New York, bringing the total number of signatures to 187.

The event was attended by Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Nations, who signed on behalf of his country, and David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section of the UN Office of Legal Affairs.

The move comes after the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the East African state, Abshir Omar Jama Huruse made a pledge to sign the Treaty at the high-level opening of the CTBT Science and Technology Conference in Vienna on 19 June 2023.

“We understand the signing the CTBT is not just a symbolic gesture but a testament to our unwavering dedication to global peace and security,” said the Somalian minister at the biennial event, which brought together around 2,000 researchers, scientists, technologists, academics, civil society representatives, and delegates from States Signatories around the world.

Robert Floyd, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), who travelled to Somalia in February 2023, said, by signing this Treaty, the country is “adding its voice to the global call for an end to nuclear testing.”

“I am deeply grateful to Somalia for stepping forward and bringing Africa closer to complete adherence to the CTBT. The region’s leadership in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament is highly commendable,” added the CTBTO head.

To date, 50 out of 54 regional States have ratified the CTBT. Africa is also home to 38 of the CTBT’s 303 International Monitoring System’s (IMS) facilities.

During the visit to Somalia in February, the Floyd met with the country’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and Minister Jama Huruse, who conveyed a strong commitment to the CTBT. He also engaged in discussions with Somalia’s Justice Minister Hassan Moalim, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ms Khadija Mohamed and Speaker of Parliament, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur.

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu sent a message to mark the momentous occasion, saying: “The full potential of the CTBTO will only be realized through the CTBT’s entry into force.”

Background

The CTBT bans all nuclear test explosions everywhere, by everyone, and for all time. Adherence to the Treaty is nearly universal, with 187 State Signatories and 178 ratifying states. However, to enter into force, the Treaty must be ratified by all 44 States listed in its Annex 2, for which eight ratifications are still required.

The CTBTO has established an International Monitoring System (IMS) to ensure that no nuclear explosion goes undetected. Currently, 305 certified facilities – of a total of 337 when complete – are operating around the world. The data collected by the IMS serves multiple purposes, including disaster mitigation, such as earthquake monitoring and tsunami warning. Additionally, it supports research in various fields, ranging from whale migration to climate change studies to predicting monsoon rains.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The successful completion of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is of vital importance to ensuring shared benefit and stability not only for Ethiopia but for the Horn of Africa and riparian countries, senior researcher at African and Asian Research Center, Samuel Tefera remarked.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced earlier today the successful filling of the fourth and final round of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The primer congratulated all who have participated in the overall activities of the project.

African and Asian Research Center Senior Researcher at the Addis Ababa University, Samuel Tefera, who share his opinion with ENA, said the successful completion of fourth and final filling of GERD demonstrates the fact that Ethiopia was able to successfully withstand international pressures.

He added that GERD is a huge project whose construction is underway with the concerted efforts of all Ethiopians.

The current stage on which the construction of the dam has reached enabled all Ethiopians to proudly lift up their head as this would create the necessary economic basis for the development of the country, the researcher said.

He further stated that the successful filling of GERD is a victory for all who supported the construction of the dam by their financial contributions, labor and prayers as well as for those security forces that guarded the dam round the clock and under sever climatic conditions.

Samuel also mentioned that it is a success for all professionals who worked from dawn to dusk in constructing the dam and media professionals who continued to report to the rest of the world on the reality in Ethiopia.

According to him, GERD is the second historical event after the Battle of Adwa under which all Ethiopians with varied political outlooks and multiple levels of economic status, language and religious affiliations were again gathered under the same pillar to make the dam a flagship project of the country.

The completion of the filling has enabled all Ethiopians too proudly lift up their head in delight as it creates a viable economic basis for the development of the country, he said.

Ethiopia has continued to cross the rubicon of internal and external challenges and pressures right from the onset of the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of the dam up to the present and final conclusion of filling and further construction without endangering the safety and security of the lower riparian countries, Samuel continued.

Due to the massive public support, the political willingness and diplomatic efforts made by the government, the country was able to withstand all challenges pressures to make the dam a reality on the ground, he indicated.

As indicated by the researcher, the completion fourth round filling of GERD on the appropriate schedule will enable the country to secure another 6 billion USD addition GDP.

The researcher noted that the completion of the filling and final conclusion of the project will create a viable and powerful electric power source for the construction of various social service institutions and would promote regional economic integration.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Veteran Diplomat Ketema Yifru has been awarded the 2023 Bego Sew special Award for his outstanding contribution in the diplomatic arena.

The Bego Sew Award recognize Ethiopians for their contributions and achievements in their respective areas of expertise.

Bego Sew Award has held its 11th round ceremony in Addis Ababa on Sunday in the presence of various dignitaries.

The award was granted in the various categories including teaching, culture, heritages and tourism as well as in trade and industry, humanitarian works, arts and public service.

Ethiopian Research and Studies Institute was awarded in the category of culture, heritages and tourism.

Ephrem Endale, Etenesh Wondimagen, Worku Goshu were awarded in the category of media, humanitarian works, and arts categories respectively.

In science and technologies catagory, Dr. Mulualem Legesse, in the Diaspora category Dr. Assefa Jajawo have received this year’s Bego Sew award.

Kuriftu Resort and Spa was awarded in the category of Trade, industry and innovation while Dr. Yayehyirad Kitaw for his dedication in his public office activities.

The veteran Diplomat, Ketema Yifru, who has served a minister of foreign affairs during Emperor Haile Selassie, has been awarded the 2023 Bego Sew special Award.

It was indicated during the ceremony that Ketema had also served his country in various responsibilities in addition to his contributions to the establishment of the Organization of African Unity and pan-Africanism.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency