Somalia: President Hassan Sheikh appoints special envoy for health and nutrition
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 08: President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (not in picture) before their meeting at Palazzo Chigi, on February 8, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has appointed Dr Abdirashid Mohamed Nur Jiley as the Special Envoy for Health and Nutrition.
Dr. Jiley’s expertise in health and nutrition is key to advancing Somalia’s healthcare vision, an official government release reads.
Dr. Jiley, a federal MP for South West State has a background in health and nutrition and his appointment is expected to boost the government’s efforts to address severe malnutrition and lack of healthcare access.
Somalia has been plagued by rising cases of malnutrition caused by natural disasters such as drought, locust infestation and conflicts.
At least 1.8 million children face acute malnutrition across Somalia with 500,000 severely malnourished according to a report by the Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (MSNA).
Recently the UN also made a statement about the possibility of Somalian families to face acute malnutrition and food shortage due to the recurrent droughts in Southern Somalia, and asked the international community to accelerate their efforts to lower such risks.
