(ERGO) – Somalia has faced multiple public health emergencies, including outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, cholera, and other communicable diseases in 2025. The federal health ministry has been taking stock of how well it communicated with the Somali public about reducing the spread of diseases, preventing deaths, countering rumours and misinformation, and encouraging preventive action.
Radio Ergo was invited to participate in the health ministry’s annual review of lessons learned in 2025, aimed at strengthening health awareness efforts next year.
At the meeting held in Mogadishu, Radio Ergo’s local reporter interviewed Khadar Hussein Mohamud, Social Behaviour Change Manager in the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services’ health promotion department.
Radio Ergo asked him first to outline the ministry’s health awareness approach.
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: The health awareness programme is designed to prevent fatal diseases that are actually preventable. The prevailing global perspective, or consensus, is that if you spend one dollar on prevention today, it is equivalent to avoiding treatment costs that could reach 10 dollars. Research on the benefits of prevention confirms this. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
The health awareness programme encourages people to adopt a habit of seeking health services before an illness strikes. For example, in the case of Acute Watery Diarrhea, awareness means people should wash their hands, eat clean and cooked food, avoid contamination, boil their drinking water, and if a child suffers from dehydration, administer basic medication.
Take another example of vaccination against preventable diseases. For a child to be healthy, we educate mothers to get vaccinated while the child is in the womb as part of prenatal care, and to complete the child’s vaccinations after birth. Vaccination is, by its nature, a lifesaver.
We work on vaccine uptake for recurring diseases, such as measles, which is very prevalent in certain regions like the South West State and others. Similarly, diphtheria can be prevented by vaccines. Acute Watery Diarrhea can be prevented by vaccines, as well as by drinking clean water and handwashing. These are among the practices the Health Ministry encourages, and which the world has agreed upon.
Radio Ergo: Do fake reports and misinformation have an impact on your awareness programmes?
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: Yes, fake reports such as lies about the efficacy of vaccines, or specific medicines, or incorrect statements regarding health services, do have an impact. Recently, we have been thinking about a rumour and misinformation management system to address false information reaching the public. False information can be corrected by establishing a proper system where the media has a designated place or platform to access Ministry reports. There is a need for this. Currently, it does not exist in a robust way, but we are working on building it in the coming years.
Radio Ergo: You mentioned that rumours are spread on social media. Do you feel that focusing on ethical reporting and delivering accurate information to the community would help?
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: Yes, absolutely. The ears of the community are the media. We believe there are many ways to prevent rumours. Religious scholars can participate in preventing rumours, and
traditional elders can also participate. The media can prevent the spread of rumours. So, utilising these systems can bring about positive change and help the community significantly.
Radio Ergo: How important do you think it is to share health ministry information through media, specifically radio, given that people without access to the internet might be listening?
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: For a long time, there were techniques used that became quite localised, often called house-to-house or person-to-person approaches. Today we talk about mass public awareness. Media is central to ensuring people receive correct information. Media outlets differ in power and reach. There are some media channels that certain segments of society cannot access. As a ministry, we strongly encourage vulnerable people, such as the displaced and those unable to use digital devices, to access radio stations. Therefore, we view radio as very important.
Radio Ergo: Radio Ergo and others face various challenges in accessing data and information from government agencies. Please comment on this, as radios are complaining about this issue.
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: First, I can only speak regarding health issues. We are sorry if information does not reach people correctly, but we are working on establishing good relations with the media to generally improve what we can.
Radio Ergo: What does it mean to deliver accurate information to the public during the spread of disease outbreaks?
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: When emergency health situations occur, the most important thing is for agencies, both governmental and humanitarian, to be prepared. It means delivering accurate information at the right time to the community. This means that a disease and how to prevent it should be known beforehand, and this information must be delivered in a timely manner. This can save lives and prevent potential crises.
Radio Ergo: What is your message regarding how media, specifically radios, can access data from official health agencies?
Khadar Hussein Mohamud: I suggest that they seek out and contact the Ministry of Health’s media office and the National Health Media centres. The Ministry has a Facebook page, Twitter, and contact points regarding health issues. Although the government has many branches dealing with various issues, and since we are numerous, consisting of both Federal and State level staff, I encourage the staff working with us to share accurate information at the right time with the public, especially with media working on health issues. There are many media outlets, and I thank Radio Ergo, which cares deeply about social issues like health and education.
