President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has named Dr. Abdirashid Mohamed Nur Jiley as Somalia’s Special Envoy for Health and Nutrition.
Dr. Jiley, a federal MP for South West State with a background in health and nutrition, is set to spearhead efforts to address the severe malnutrition and lack of healthcare access.
“Dr. Jiley’s expertise in health and nutrition is key to advancing Somalia’s healthcare vision,” stated an official release from Somalia’s state news agency. ”
His selection comes at a critical juncture, as the country faces alarmingly high rates of malnutrition, compounded by climate change-induced disasters, locust infestations, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent conflicts.
The Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (MSNA) report from February 2024 highlights the dire situation, projecting that 1.8 million children will suffer from acute malnutrition this year, including around 500,000 severely malnourished. A nutritious diet costs around USD 7 for a family of five, an inaccessible expense in a country where 69 percent of the population survive on less than USD 2 per day.
