By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is involved in various health interventions in Somaliland.
In its humanitarian and development interventions in Somalia the regional body apportions its support equitably to south central Somalia, Puntland region and Somaliland thus interventions devoid of politics that engulf the former united Somalia.
This was revealed by The IGAD Senior advisor for Social Health and development Dr Groom Hailu during an interview with somalilandsun in Hargeisa where he represented the regional body at the just concluded 3rd Annual Somaliland Diaspora conference.
Reiterating that the official representation of Somaliland at IGAD and other bodies like the African Union and United Nations is a political issue outside his purview the Ethiopian national who is a public health specialist stated that services profuse by his department are humanitarian in nature and coupled with the IGAD mission of assisting and complementing efforts of Member States to achieve, through increased cooperation: Food Security and environmental protection, Promotion and maintenance of peace and security and humanitarian affairs, and, Economic cooperation and integration negates political considerations.
“To this effect we usually have a representation from Somaliland during meetings hosted the Social and health development department especially those dealing with Protection of basic health services, promotion of health, migration, Gender, education and employment among others” Said Dr Hailu
The medic revealed that human resources development (Trainings), international meetings organized by IGAD in relation to the various programs under the Social and development always handle Somaliland equally with South central and Puntland.
As part of his purview the Ethiopian Dr was an official guest at the 3rd Somaliland Diaspora Conference held from2-3 August, 2016in Hargeisa where over 350 participants pooled from professionals entrepreneurs, community leaders and a large Diaspora contingent European countries as well as Australia, the Americas and Asia
As for his visit, Dr Hailu said that he is in Hargeisa for purposes of extending IGAD’s support to the Somaliland Diaspora Conference organized by the ministry of foreign affairs which is the third edition but first for the regional body to not only participate in but present its strategies for the sector deemed important to development of the bodies individual member states as well as within the region
Said he ,”Though the main purpose of visiting here as a representative of IGAD at the Diaspora conference I also had the opportunity to network with locally based partners including the ministry of health as well as major foreign and local investors” adding that the main objectives of his official visit were
I. supporting the Diaspora conference and organizers achieve planned outcomes
II. sharing accrued regional experiences on issues Diaspora with the ministry of foreign affairs and Somaliland Diaspora agency that were joint conference organizers
III. Present IGADs agenda of various programs like health, education and migration to mention a few
IV. General briefing on the mandate of the regional body as it is the policy of IGAD to keep its constituents abreast with activities and
V. The regional body’s future engagement with Somaliland especially as pertains to harnessing the economic and professional might abundant within the country’s Diaspora community worldwide.
Dr Hailu was praises for the conference organizers for giving the IGAD delegation ample time it present its Diaspora experiences and strategies for engagement with individual member states and regionally
“During proceedings the IGAD commitment to harnessing the economic and expertise of the regions Diaspora towards development of local economies in member states was presented with specifics on how best Somaliland can be benefit
In conclusion Dr Groom Hailu who was very impressed by the state of development and peaceful co-existent in Somaliland was optimistic that the politics denying international recognition to this country shall dissipate soon rather than later.
