Category: news

SIMAD Institute for Global Health (SIGHt) organized a pivotal scientific forum presenting research to support healthcare policy advancements in Somalia. Key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, the National Health Institute, and major hospitals engaged in discussions on the critical role of data-driven research in improving healthcare services. Leaders commended SIGHt’s commitment to research, recognizing it as a cornerstone for sustainable healthcare development.

Dr. Najib Isse Dirie, Senior Research Associate at SIGHt (SIMAD Institute for Global Health), appeared on VOA Somalia to discuss the findings of a new study on the 2022 drought in Somalia. The research, presented in Mogadishu, revealed over 71,000 deaths, with vulnerable groups such as children under five heavily affected. Dr. Najib emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address the root causes of such crises and to implement preventative measures to mitigate future disasters.

A joint study by SIGHT (SIMAD Institute for Global Health), the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the Ministry of Health-Somalia, in collaboration with UNICEF Somalia and WHO Somalia, revealed that over 71,000 lives were lost during the 2022 drought, with 41% being children under five. The event in Mogadishu emphasized urgent action to prevent future disasters through collaborative planning.

In a strategic move to strengthen its global health initiatives, SIMAD University has appointed Dr. Bashiru Garba as the new Director of the SIMAD Institute for Global Health (SIGHt). The appointment, effective January 2025, comes at a pivotal time following the institute’s recent rebranding from the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) as approved by the University Senate in November 2024. Dr. Garba brings valuable expertise to lead SIGHt’s mission of enhancing population health outcomes through research excellence, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration in Somalia and beyond.