Strengthening ENT Care in Low Resource Settings: Multidisciplinary and Technology Enabled Strategies to Reduce Preventable Morbidity

Abstract

Ear, nose, and throat disorders remain an overlooked public health challenge in low resource settings, where shortages of trained specialists, limited diagnostic tools, and fragile health systems contribute to preventable disability. Somalia exemplifies the difficulties faced by countries affected by protracted conflict, widespread displacement, and underdeveloped healthcare infrastructure, where patients frequently present late with chronic ear infections, progressive hearing loss, airway obstruction, or advanced head and neck cancers. These challenges mirror conditions across many low and middle income countries in Africa and Asia. This commentary synthesizes published literature and institutional reports to examine the burden of ENT disease, health system gaps, and feasible strengthening strategies in Somalia and comparable low resource settings. It highlights the relevance of digital diagnostics, telemedicine, task sharing, community screening, and surgical capacity development as realistic approaches to reducing preventable morbidity in fragile health systems.