UN expresses concerns about Somalia's inadequate COVID-19 testing abilities

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A number of international partners led by the United Nations have expressed concerns about Somalia's inadequate COVID-19 testing abilities, arguing that the disease may have infected many people then recorded by the Ministry of Health, which is a major stakeholder in efforts to combat the virus.

Since the beginning of August, the Horn of Africa nation has been recording fewer cases than before, an indication that normalcy is about to return, but the UN insists that the gaps in geographic coverage could give a wrong impression thus mislead agencies which are fighting against the pandemic.

The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA] office in Somalia said that despite efforts to do thorough testing across the country, some districts are not covered due to the fact that the ministry of health has been struggling with testing due to lack of equipment.

"In Jubaland [southern region], partners report lack of enough ventilators and oxygen machines, lack of a regional laboratory as well as inadequate funding to support El-Wak and Dhobley isolation centers," said the UN humanitarian agency.

It said around 200 out of 838 schools need support to implement protocols and measures to mitigate the pandemic risk in Somaliland, added the agency, which has been working closely with Somalia government in the fight against COVID-19.

The agency claimed that in Puntland State of northern Somalia, partners are concerned that the public has largely relaxed adherence to COVID-19 protocols and safety measures, despite cases reaching 400 in the state.

After the pandemic hit hard in Somalia, the Federal Government only imposed restrictions within the Benadir region which hosts the capital Mogadishu, but it has since relaxed the rules. Among others, international and domestic flights resumed early this month, but the government asked people to adhere to MOH protocols.

Most states were forced to improvise their working mechanisms in the fight against COVID-19 with little or minimum assistance from the federal government. However, some donations from Qatar, Turkey, UAE, and other international partners were delivered by volunteers.

Last week, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lauded government efforts to combat the pandemic. However, he asked the federal government of Somalia and international partners to work closely towards the efforts to help minimize the spread of the disease.

"I commend the ongoing response of the Somali authorities to the COVID-19
pandemic at both the federal and state levels, which the United Nations continues to assist," he told the United Nations Security Council.

"Somalia will continue to need the support of the international community in these efforts, including to alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic on Somali households and to address the humanitarian needs resulting from recurring floods and the desert locust infestation. I call for donor support for these efforts."

So far, Somalia has recorded close to 4,000 COVID-19 positive cases with almost half of the patients recovering. However, about 100 people have succumbed to the virus but there were reports from Mogadishu Mayor Omar Filish that the number of fatalities could be a little bit higher than the official figures.

GAROWE ONLINE