HARGEISA, Somaliland 10-10-2026 – The Ministry of Health Development, with support from UNICEF, has opened a dedicated child immunization centre at Hargeisa Group Hospital, expanding access to essential vaccination services and strengthening efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking at the inauguration, Somaliland’s Minister of Health Development, Dr. Hussein Bashir Hirsi, expressed his happiness at witnessing the opening of a facility exclusively dedicated to child immunization. He thanked UNICEF and its donors for their generous support in establishing the centre, highlighting the importance of continued investment in child health and preventive healthcare services.
Mohamed A. Hussein, Director of the Child Health and Immunization Programme Department at the Ministry of Health Development, thanked the speakers for highlighting the lifesaving benefits of vaccination. He noted that the initiative had originated within the Ministry and expressed satisfaction that the plan had been successfully implemented within the intended timeframe.
The Director emphasized that the new centre represents an important step towards strengthening routine immunization services and ensuring children have access to timely, quality vaccination.
Dr. Ahmed Weli Dahir, Director of Hargeisa Group Hospital, underscored the importance of immunization in safeguarding children and protecting communities. “Saving children means saving the community,†he said, urging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the improved availability of vaccines and ensure their children receive all recommended doses.
Strengthening Somaliland’s immunization programme
Immunization remains one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions, preventing serious illness, disability and death. However, children in underserved communities continue to face barriers to vaccination, including distance to health facilities, limited access to services and missed vaccination opportunities.
The Ministry of Health Development, supported by UNICEF, WHO and other partners, continues to strengthen routine immunization through outreach services, vaccination campaigns, improved vaccine supply and cold-chain systems, and community engagement. Recent initiatives, including the Big Catch-Up campaign and partnerships with private hospitals, are helping reach zero-dose and under-immunized children.
The Ministry is also advancing the development of a National Immunization Programme Strategy for 2026–2030 to guide priorities, improve service quality and promote equitable access to vaccination.
The new centre at Hargeisa Group Hospital reinforces these efforts by providing a dedicated space for children’s vaccination services. UNICEF and the Ministry will continue working together to strengthen immunization systems and ensure that every child, regardless of location or circumstances, receives lifesaving vaccines.
