THT-A report by the Turkish independence newspaper on the challenges of COVID-19 infection in Africa, The other side of the epidemic: Africa, include in a report on Somaliland’s response to the infection.
While investigating the effects of Covid-19 on Africa, Dr. Faisal Garba, met with an official from Somaliland, one of the smallest countries in Africa and not yet officially recognized by most of the world.
Struggling in isolation from the outside world during the Covid-19 process, Somaliland did not receive support from the outside world, except for the support within the local community.
From the Somaliland Ministry of Health, I asked Dr Abdiwahab Nakruma about his experiences in this process. In order to see the most obvious effects of Covid-19, what Mr. Nakruma said is very important:
“Somaliland has prepared a protocol budget of around $4 million collected by the government and other local stakeholders. Similar to the rest of the world, restrictions were imposed and isolation measures were taken. The fact that Somaliland is an officially unrecognized country in the Horn of Africa has made economic development difficult. It led to diplomatic isolation and the lagging of the healthcare system.” Said Dr Nakruma
“Since independence, Somaliland has devoted itself to the process of state-building in a relatively safe and peaceful environment. Considerable progress has been made on many fronts since the early 1990s. But despite everything, we didn’t get any support from the rest of the world other than self-support.” Added Dr Nakruma
Dr. Abdiwahab Nakruma is one of the doctors in the Somaliland Ministry of Health Development who has been educating the Somaliland community for more than 30 years on hygiene.
On May 20th, 2021, Somaliland Vice President, H.E. Abdirahman Saylici, who chairs Somaliland National Committee for Prevention and Control of COVID19 awarded certificate of appreciation with prize to Dr Nakruma, for his COVID-19 continues awareness efforts.
Dr. Abdiwahab Nakruma said is very important for African countries to create a development plan for self-sufficiency and local mobilization.
We have to review all our work and policies regarding Africa, especially humanitarian aid. Because we are witnessing the ineffectiveness of existing policies and approached
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Somaliland in March 2020. As of 16 August 2021, there are 4722 cases and 319 deaths. 69175 tests have been conducted
Omer Faruk Ozbil
https://www.indyturk.com/node/400486/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/salg%C4%B1n%C4%B1n-%C3%B6teki-y%C3%BCz%C3%BC-afrika-3