
On December 12, 2024, Countdown to 2030 organized a dissemination meeting on maternal health and immunization indicator coverage in Somalia, leveraging routine health facility data-derived denominators. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health-Somalia and the Capital University of Somalia, as part of the Somalia Country Collaboration team.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health-Somalia, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, among others. The primary aim was to provide evidence to inform policy formulation and programming, thereby accelerating life-saving interventions in reproductive, maternal, and child health in Somalia.
The meeting facilitated a comprehensive discussion on effective progress monitoring for maternal and child health outcomes in the country. It also highlighted the potential of using routine health facility data to enhance service delivery, focusing on opportunities and strategies for improving data quality and utilization across all levels of the health system.
Maternal and child health remains a critical priority in Somalia, with continued efforts to improve outcomes for women and children. Despite some progress, significant barriers persist, preventing many from accessing quality healthcare and contributing to poor health outcomes and preventable deaths. Routine health facility data—though essential for identifying service gaps, monitoring trends, and informing resource allocation—are often incomplete and underutilized. By analyzing and disseminating these data, stakeholders aim to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and optimize resource distribution to address critical gaps in maternal and child health services.