Mogadishu, Somalia – The Director General of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Dr. Hussein Abukar Muhidine, paid an official working visit to the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI), where he was warmly received by the Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Libaan Abdi Igaal.
The Director General was accompanied by NIH departmental directors and senior advisors. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions in delivering essential health services to Somali citizens returning to the country, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Discussions focused on enhancing coordination in border health services, improving health screening procedures at points of entry, and strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms to address the health needs of returning Somali nationals entering through the country’s official border crossings.
During the meeting, both institutions agreed to establish a Joint Technical Committee to accelerate planning, implementation, and monitoring of health interventions for returning Somali citizens and internally displaced populations. This partnership is expected to reinforce public health protection and ensure that returnees and displaced communities have timely access to quality, coordinated healthcare services upon arrival and throughout their reintegration.
Dr. Hussein Abukar Muhidine expressed his sincere appreciation to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the importance of strengthening inter-institutional collaboration to ensure returning Somali citizens receive prompt, high-quality, and well-coordinated health services.
In his closing remarks, the Director General reaffirmed the National Institute of Health’s commitment to working closely with the National Commission to translate the agreed priorities into practical action, ensuring that health interventions effectively respond to the needs of returning Somali citizens and internally displaced persons across the country.
The meeting marks an important step toward strengthening national coordination and advancing Somalia’s commitment to protecting public health through integrated, people-centered services for vulnerable populations.
