World Health Assembly adopts Somalia's resolution on maternal, newborn and child health

Somalia has joined the world in accelerating progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

The move aims to recognise that universal health coverage is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on health and well-being, including maternal, newborn and child survival.

This, according to the 77th World Health Assembly, will contribute to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and well-being, and to a more equitable and sustainable world.

In addition to Somalia, the draft resolution was co-sponsored by 21 countries, including Kenya, Botswana, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania.

The report shares the concern that despite significant improvements in health outcomes for women, children and adolescents in recent decades, progress has stalled and the trend is being exacerbated by worsening rates of malnutrition, poor water supply, sanitation and hygiene, and low health literacy among young people, and the impact of conflict, climate change, the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) and other social determinants of health.

"As a region, we strongly support the resolution proposed by Somalia and call for continued commitment, investment and partnership for maternal and child health," said Dr Ali Haji Adam, Somalia's Minister of Health.

Antimicrobial resistance

"We also need to do more to combat the deadly threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is higher than the global average and continues to rise."

 "Health is one of the priorities of President Hassan Mohamud's government," said Dr Adam.

"We will align ourselves with all policies that make it safer and healthier for our people, and this is one of them," he added.

The new policy aims to eliminate child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, recognising that child marriage is a driver of adolescent pregnancy and that adolescent mothers are at higher risk of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and systemic infections, and that babies born to adolescent mothers are at higher risk of low birth weight, preterm birth and severe neonatal conditions.

It also recognises the critical importance of government leadership and a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to improving maternal, newborn and child health by expanding coverage of and equitable access to integrated primary health care services with strong referral linkages to quality secondary care services, with assured legislative and budgetary support and oversight.

Child mortality

The proposals focus on taking action to significantly reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity, and to improve access to quality health services for newborns, infants and children and for all women before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth, including through the provision of antenatal and postnatal care, sufficient numbers of skilled health personnel1 and adequate obstetric facilities.

The tragedy of preventable deaths is not confined to a handful of countries as, on current trends, more than 4 out of 5 countries will miss their national maternal mortality target, 64 countries will miss the neonatal mortality target and 59 countries will miss the under-five mortality target by 2030," said Dr Guled Abdijalil, Director General, Ministry of Health.

The resolutions also call for a reorientation of health systems towards a primary health care approach, supported by strong country leadership and management capacity, to improve the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents across the life course, with appropriate financial protection against risks, community involvement and multi-sectoral collaboration, including water, sanitation and hygiene, education and nutrition.

A committee established to fast-track these resolutions is expected to report to the World Health Assembly on this resolution as part of the biennial substantive reporting on the Global Strategy for Women and Children.