Somalia, 2 November 2025 — Somaliland has launched a nationwide child vaccination campaign targeting children aged one to five years, amid concerns of declining coverage.
The initiative aims to protect against common infectious diseases including measles, polio, tuberculosis, and diarrheal illnesses which have spiked in the recent past.
Officials said the campaign will reach 1,182 children across all regions of Somaliland.
Speaking during the launch on Saturday, Health Minister, Huseen Bashiir Hirsi, reiterated Somaliland’s commitment to providing healthcare services to all children in the region.
"The Ministry is determined to ensure that healthcare reaches every child in Somaliland, wherever they live," Hirsi said urging parents to bring their children to vaccination centers.
The campaign is being implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, forming part of broader efforts to reduce preventable childhood diseases and mortality.
Recent international reports indicate a significant decline in child vaccination coverage in Somalia over the past several years, with rates falling by nearly 50 per cent.
UNICEF estimates that approximately 1.5 million children under five in the country have never received a single dose of essential vaccines, highlighting the urgent need for expanded immunization efforts.