Somaliland has taken an important step toward strengthening its response to severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by joining the NCDI Poverty Network. Following this engagement, the Head of the NCDs Program at the Somalilander-American Health Association (SAHA), the National NCDs Coordinator from the Ministry of Health Development (MoHD), and healthcare providers from SAHA-supported NCD clinics at Burao and Gabiley General Hospitals participated in the PEN-Plus Master Trainer Training. The training was organized by the NCDI Poverty Network and hosted by the Mathiwos Wondu Foundation (MWF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The training focused on building national capacity to deliver quality care for severe and complex NCDs at district and referral health facilities, with an emphasis on low-resource settings. As part of the program, participants visited the Mathiwos Wondu Foundation Muke Turi Primary Hospital PEN-Plus Clinic, where they exchanged practical experiences on service organization, early diagnosis and management of severe NCDs, program standards, health information systems, and strategies to improve the quality of care at the primary hospital level.
The knowledge and skills gained through this training will support the expansion of PEN-Plus services in Somaliland, with trained clinicians leading efforts to strengthen access to quality care for patients with severe NCDs nationwide.
