UNICEF Somalia has received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in order to boost the fight against COVID-19 and strengthen emergency services throughout the country.

According to UNICEF, this contribution will allow them to reach 1 million people with COVID-19 prevention messaging; 484,000 people with health services; 83,000 children with treatment for severe acute malnutrition; and 300,000 people with emergency and sustained water, hygiene, and sanitation services.

The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Health recently announced that the number of COVID-19 cases registered in the country has surpassed 16,000.

The Federal Government of Somalia also received 302,400 doses of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine as a donation from the United States government. These vaccines are the first single-dose vaccines to be distributed in the country.