Somalia's new community health strategy: Strengthening primary health care and health system resilience

Abstract

Background: Somalia has introduced a new Community Health Strategy to strengthen primary health care (PHC) and improve health system resilience. The strategy addresses persistent gaps in service delivery, limited access to essential health services in rural and underserved communities, and inadequate capacity to respond to public health emergencies. Methods: This correspondence presents a descriptive policy analysis of Somalia's newly launched Community Health Strategy using national policy documents and relevant peer-reviewed literature to assess its priorities and implications for community-based health service delivery. Results: The strategy prioritizes expansion of community health worker programs, integration of preventive and promotive services, strengthened referral pathways between communities and primary health facilities, improved workforce capacity, enhanced supervision, and stronger coordination among government and implementing partners. It also emphasizes preparedness for disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies to improve health system resilience. Conclusions: Somalia's Community Health Strategy represents an important step toward strengthening primary health care and building a more resilient health system. Effective implementation could improve equitable access to essential services, enhance community-level disease prevention and response, and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.