The recent account of a repairman’s wife denied basic drugs and hygiene supplies after delivering her child at Garowe Government General Hospital is not an isolated tragedy—it is a searing indictment of Puntland’s collapsing healthcare system. This incident, emblematic of systemic neglect, exposes a dire reality: in one of Somalia’s most politically significant regions, mothers and newborns are left vulnerable to preventable suffering, while years of warnings about deteriorating health infrastructure go unheeded. Puntland’s failure to safeguard maternal health is not merely a policy failure; it is a moral crisis demanding immediate redress.
The Garowe Incident: A Microcosm of Systemic Collapse
The ordeal faced by the repairman’s family—a newborn welcomed into the world without access to sterile equipment, pain relief, or postnatal care—illustrates the human cost of Puntland’s healthcare decay. Garowe Government General Hospital, a facility intended to serve as a cornerstone of public health, could not provide even the most rudimentary supplies. This reflects a broader pattern: clinics and hospitals across Puntland frequently lack essential medicines, functional equipment, and trained staff. Maternal health services, which require consistent resources and expertise, are particularly crippled. Stories of women sharing beds, reusing gloves, or paying out-of-pocket for basics like antiseptics are tragically common, underscoring a system in freefall.
Chronic Underfunding and Institutional Apathy
Puntland’s healthcare crisis is rooted in chronic underfunding and misprioritization. Despite its semi-autonomous status and revenue from ports and local taxation, healthcare remains a low budgetary priority. Corruption and mismanagement further divert scarce resources. In 2022, a report by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies noted that Puntland allocates less than 5% of its annual budget to health—far below the 15% target set by the African Union’s Abuja Declaration. Meanwhile, international aid, often earmarked for specific projects, fails to address systemic gaps due to poor coordination and accountability.
The consequences are stark: maternal mortality rates in Somalia, already among the world’s highest at 692 deaths per 100,000 live births, are likely exacerbated in Puntland due to inaccessible care. Neonatal survival is equally precarious, with preventable infections claiming lives daily.
The Brain Drain and Broken Infrastructure
Compounding these issues is a debilitating exodus of skilled healthcare workers. Doctors and nurses, disillusioned by unpaid salaries and hazardous working conditions, flee to urban centers or abroad. Rural areas bear the brunt: clinics stand empty, and midwives—often the sole lifelines for pregnant women—are overburdened and undersupplied. Even in Garowe, the capital, hospitals rely on erratic donations and the heroism of underpaid staff.
A Legacy of Warnings Ignored
For years, civil society groups, healthcare workers, and international partners have sounded alarms. In 2019, the Puntland Health Professionals Association warned of “imminent collapse” without urgent investment. Local media routinely highlight drug shortages and strikes by unpaid medical staff. Yet the government’s response has been tepid, prioritizing security and political infrastructure over health. This neglect reflects a broader devaluation of women’s lives in policymaking, where maternal health is relegated to an afterthought.
The Path Forward: Accountability and Equity.
Addressing this crisis requires multifaceted action:
• Increased Budgetary Allocation: Puntland must honor its Abuja Declaration commitments, prioritizing healthcare funding and ensuring transparency in expenditure.
• Strengthening Supply Chains: Partnerships with NGOs and UN agencies could stabilize medical supply pipelines, avoiding stockouts of essentials.
• Workforce Investment: Competitive salaries, training programs, and incentives for rural postings can stem the brain drain.
• Community Health Networks: Empowering local midwives and mobile clinics can bridge gaps in remote areas.
• Public Accountability: Civil society and media must hold leaders accountable, transforming healthcare from a political slogan into a tangible right.
Conclusion: A Matter of Life and Death
The repairman’s story is a wake-up call. Each day Puntland delays reform, it sentences mothers and children to unnecessary risk. Healthcare is not a luxury—it is the foundation of human dignity and social stability. As Puntland aspires to position itself as a model of governance in Somalia, it must confront this crisis with the urgency it demands. The lives of its most vulnerable citizens depend on it.
To ignore their suffering is to betray the very notion of governance.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 