World Health Organization (Somalia )

The WHO Representative’s Office in Somalia supports the Government and health authorities at central and local level in strengthening health services, addressing public health issues and supporting and promoting research for health.  
 
Physicians, public health specialists, scientists, social scientists and epidemiologists provide appropriate technical support and collaboration upon the request or acceptance of national authorities. 
 
As the lead health agency, WHO works with many partners to support countries in reaching their national health development goals and to ensure that its efforts are coordinated. Across the Region, these include United Nations agencies, humanitarian and development partners, donors, nongovernmental organizations, WHO collaborating centres and the private sector.
WHO is the UN specialised agency for health. Since 1960, WHO has been working in Somalia towards reducing avoidable loss of life, burden of disease and disability, and supporting the Somali government in building a comprehensive, inclusive and equitable health care delivery system.

Despite the country’s fragile situation, WHO has been able to establish and maintain its presence in the country, with three sub-offices and three field offices. The WHO Somalia Liaison Office in Nairobi, Kenya coordinates programme activities.

WHO Somalia functions with 380 staff, consultants and contractors, of whom 320 are working inside Somalia.The polio programme has built an extensive network of more than 200 trained surveillance staff (physical presence of at least one person in each district).