Mogadishu, Somalia – The World Health Organization in Somalia has announced an expansion of trauma and mental health support services aimed at protecting frontline health workers who face daily exposure to extraordinary stress. The initiative recognizes the growing need to safeguard the well-being of doctors, nurses, cleaners, and even security staff who shoulder the weight of providing care under often hostile and high-pressure conditions.
According to WHO Somalia, health professionals across the country are confronted with repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, forcing them to make critical life-saving decisions while coping with emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and security risks. These pressures have been intensified by Somalia’s fragile health system, ongoing conflict, and frequent emergencies ranging from violence to natural disasters.
The expanded program includes specialized mental health training, psychological first aid, peer-support mechanisms, and confidential counseling services designed to help health workers build resilience. It also seeks to address the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging staff to seek support without fear of discrimination.
“Health workers are the backbone of Somalia’s health system, but they cannot take care of others if their own well-being is neglected,” WHO Somalia said in a statement while emphasizing that trauma-informed care and workplace mental health protection are not optional but essential to sustaining an effective and motivated health workforce.
The move aligns with WHO’s broader strategy of strengthening health systems in crisis-affected settings and ensuring that healthcare providers are supported to continue their critical roles. By tackling burnout and mental distress among Somalia’s frontline staff, the program aims to improve not only the workers’ lives but also the quality of care delivered to communities in need.
