At a function officiated by Somaliland health minister Dr Haglatosie in Erigavo town
By: Latifa Yusuf Masai
ERIGAVO (Somalilandsun) – Service provision at the Erigavo hospital in the Eastern Somaliland region of Sanaag are expected to expeditiously improve.
This follows the assumption of the hospitals management by Shifat, a locally owned private health company courtesy of a contract from the Somaliland Development Fund-SDF which is supporting the institution with operational funding.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by a health ministry team led by Minister Dr Suleiman Isse ‘Haglatosie, his state minister and director of planning as well as Sanaag regional administrators, Erigavo local council, SDF representatives, hospital staff and ordinary citizens.
According to minster Dr Haglatosie the minister of health shall only retain supervisory functions after Shifat which won management contract from a large pool of bidders assumes full administrative duties at the Erigavo hospital which is the only referral medical institution in the whole of Sanaag region.
In his briefing in which he commended all levels of staff, Dr Haglatosie stated that 270 outpatients largely women as well as 60 inpatient from the same gender and emanating from all over the sprawling region were served at the Erigavo hospital
Dr Haglatosie also revealed that his entourage “includes three new Doctors seconded by his ministry to Erigavo hospital and that they shall assume duties immediately”
In Conclusion the Somaliland health minister Dr Suleiman Isse ‘Haglatosie who wished the incoming administrator which will also establish 11 new buildings for various health services profusion purposes, was also quick to stress that Shifat was not owner but only contracted to manage the Erigavo hospital, the main public medical centre in Sanaag region.
Guest speakers at the function were unanimous in their diverse institutions readiness to work closely with Shifat thence attain apt health services not only in Erigavo but in the whole of Sanaag region as well.
As she welcome Shifat to the region and specifically at the hospital, Councillor Qamar Taleh of the local council, also revealed that many health operatives in Sanaag and more so at the regional hospital mostly women work as volunteers for over ten years.
“I requested the minister of health to include these women volunteers in the ministry’s payroll” adding that this will give apt medical service profusion a much needed impetus.
Mayor Ismail Haji Nuur who commended Minister Dr Haglatosie for his special attention to health services in Sanaag region was at pains to understand why the ministry of planning was deaf and blind to local development needs.
Said he, “While we appreciate this support by SDF, I also inform that Sanaag region receives the least funding from the multimillion dollar box” adding that the anomaly had nothing to do with SDF but as a result of recommendations by the ministry of planning and national coordination.
The regional Governor Ahmed Abdi Faley who congratulated Shifat for winning the bid to manage and develop the Erigavo hospital stated that his administration shall provide all necessary support thus ensure quality health services are availed residents.
In conclusion the Shifat managing Director, Musa Hasan who promised his company’s diligence in fulfilling contractual obligations as pertains hospital management and development informed that full operations shall be started within a fortnight.
The Shifat administration at the Erigavo hospital is preceded by that of MSF Holland which is credited with facilitating the reduction of unnecessary deaths in the region through uplifting the hospitals infrastructure, equipment’s and staff skills.
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The Erigavo hospital management handover