Mogadishu, Somalia – In a stark blow to Somalia’s fragile healthcare system, 121 health and nutrition facilities have been severely affected by recent reductions in USAID funding. The impacted sites, which include health centers, integrated community case management (ICCM) sites, mobile clinics, a district hospital, stabilization centers, and primary health units, collectively provided essential services to over 817,000 people, predominantly women and children.
The facilities, scattered across some of the country’s most vulnerable regions, had been a lifeline for communities grappling with malnutrition, preventable diseases, and limited access to basic medical care. With funding cuts now taking effect, routine immunizations, maternal and child health services, and emergency nutrition support face disruption, leaving families with few alternatives.
Healthcare workers on the ground, many of whom are trained specifically to address malnutrition and disease outbreaks, are now forced to scale back services. Mobile clinics, which have been critical in reaching remote populations, are particularly hard hit, threatening to cut off care for communities far from urban centers.
The ripple effects of these funding cuts extend beyond immediate medical services. Nutrition programs that had successfully reduced rates of severe acute malnutrition in children are now at risk, while patients with chronic illnesses may face interruptions in treatment. Health experts warn that the consequences could deepen humanitarian crises in areas already battling conflict, drought, and poverty.
Somalia has made strides in expanding health coverage in recent years, but sustaining progress requires reliable international support. With thousands now left without access to care, the shortfall highlights the fragility of the country’s health system and the urgent need for renewed commitments from the global community.
The disruption underscores the human cost behind funding decisions: families who once relied on nearby clinics for lifesaving services are now left in uncertainty, hoping that alternative support mechanisms can fill the growing gap.