Somalia Joins Global Call to Eliminate Hepatitis at the United Nations
New York, September 2024
Somalia has reinforced its national and global commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 through active participation in the United Nations Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis. The high-level meeting convened heads of state, ministers, UN agencies, global health leaders, scientists, and civil society to intensify political momentum against one of the world’s most neglected but deadly epidemics.
Ministerial Statement
In his remarks, Dr. Ali Haji Adan, Minister of Health and Human Services of Somalia, underscored the global urgency of the hepatitis crisis:
“Honorable members of the UN Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis, the Government of Somalia salutes the Member States and the United Nations for championing this critical global initiative. Today, more than 254 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and 50 million with chronic hepatitis C. Each year, over one million individuals lose their lives to liver disease and liver cancer. This is a global crisis demanding unified action and unwavering political commitment.”
Dr. Ali highlighted that the UN Group of Friends, established in 2022, has created an essential diplomatic platform for countries, technical agencies, and civil society to share innovations, coordinate efforts, and build the political will required to achieve the viral hepatitis targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Somalia’s National Commitment
Somalia reaffirmed that eliminating hepatitis is now a national political priority. The country has developed its National Hepatitis B and C Elimination Policy and Strategy, focusing on:
- Prevention: Scaling up nationwide immunization for infants, including the historic introduction of the hepatitis B birth dose.
- Testing and Treatment: Expanding screening for high-risk groups, improving diagnosis, and ensuring timely, effective treatment for hepatitis B and C.
- Collaboration and Advocacy: Actively participating in the UN Group of Friends to promote shared learning, strengthen solidarity, and align national actions with the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy.
- Resource Mobilization: Engaging domestic budgets, development banks, bilateral partners, and global initiatives to secure sustainable financing for the hepatitis response.
- Policy Integration: Ensuring that hepatitis elimination is embedded within national health policies and championed at the highest levels of government.
The Minister stressed that Somalia will mobilize its top political leadership, including regional administrations, district authorities, parliamentarians, and community leaders, to drive nationwide implementation. The hepatitis program will be fully integrated into primary healthcare and the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS).
“Let us take hepatitis seriously,” Dr. Ali concluded. “Elimination is achievable, but only if we remain united, ambitious, and politically committed.”
Global Context
The UN gathering reiterated that the world must significantly increase prevention, testing, and treatment to avert the 1.3 million annual deaths caused by viral hepatitis. Somalia’s engagement signals a renewed national resolve and contributes to the growing global movement to end hepatitis as a public health threat.
For Somalia, eliminating hepatitis is not only a health goal it is an issue of equity, global solidarity, and social justice, ensuring every citizen has access to lifesaving services and no one is left behind.
