By: Osman A.M.
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Government has formulated institutional guidelines and policy framework in mitigating hazards & health related risks among the measures contained in a draft document entitled ‘National health & safety policy’ issued by Health Ministry.
A consultative forum deliberating on national health & safety standards was graced by the Health Minister Dr. Suleiman Issa Ahmed Haglatosie at Mansour Hotel in Hargeisa on Wednesday. Other dignitaries in attendance were the Deputy Minister for Labor & Social Services, the Director General (DG) for Health, the chairperson of the Association of Medical Profession & stakeholders providing health care services.
Dr. Haglatosie in his speech at the forum reaffirmed the Government’s commitment in ensuring the safety of workers & population generally by improving preparedness measures during disaster & emergency moments. To this end, the minister disclosed that the ministry is drafting policy framework in enforcing while at the same time containing health related hazards and risks.
The Minister noted that previous forums to discuss the policy were held where the views and input from stakeholders were consolidated before this consultative function.
On her part the Deputy Minister for Labor & Social Services Shukri Harir Ismail noted the convention and the eventual formulation of the national health & safety policy was long overdue.
The head of the Association of Medical Profession Dr. Abdirashid Hashi was optimistically confident that the policy would improve medical services generally with due consideration given to saving lives.
Faiza Ibrahim Ahmed, the departmental head of Planning at Health Ministry commended the forum for disseminating information on saving lives in case of an inferno.
Finally the D.G. at the Health Ministry Dr. Osman Hussein attributed special attention to saving lives on occurrence of unforeseeable risks.
“This function has exhausted deliberating the causes as well as measures of containing fire that erupts at working surroundings with attention given on how to minimize the risks associated with it”, summed up Dr. Osman.
