Somalia

Somalia's public healthcare system was largely destroyed during the ensuing civil war. As with other previously nationalized sectors, informal providers have filled the vacuum and replaced the former government monopoly over healthcare, with access to facilities witnessing a significant increase. The cost of medical consultations and treatment in these facilities is low, at $5.72 per visit in health centres (with a population coverage of 95%), and $1.89–3.97 per outpatient visit and $7.83–13.95 per bed day in primary through tertiary hospitals.[304]

Comparing the 2005–2010 period with the half-decade just prior to the outbreak of the conflict (1985–1990), actually increased from an average of 47 years for men and women to 48.2 years for men and 51 years for women. Similarly, the number of one-year-olds fully immunized against rose from 30% in 1985–1990 to 40% in 2000–2005, and for , it grew nearly 20% from 31% to 50% over the same period.

The number of infants with low birth weight fell from 16 per 1,000 to 0.3, a 15% drop in total over the same time frame. Between 2005 and 2010 as compared to the 1985–1990 period, per 1,000 births also fell from 152 to 109.6. Significantly, maternal mortality per 100,000 births fell from 1,600 in the pre-war 1985–1990 half-decade to 1,100 in the 2000–2005 period. The number of physicians per 100,000 people also rose from 3.4 to 4 over the same time frame, as did the percentage of the population with access to sanitation services, which increased from 18% to 26%.

According to data on the midwifery workforce, there is a total of 429 midwives (including nurse-midwives) in Somalia, with a density of one midwife per 1,000 live births. Eight midwifery institutions presently exist in the country, two of which are private. Midwifery education programs on average last from 12 to 18 months, and operate on a sequential basis. The number of student admissions per total available student places is a maximum 100%, with 180 students enrolled as of 2009. Midwifery is regulated by the government, and a license is required to practice professionally. A live registry is also in place to keep track of licensed midwives. In addition, midwives in the country are officially represented by a local midwives association, with 350 registered members.[310]

According to a 2005 World Health Organization estimate, about 97.9% of Somalia's women and girls underwent , and parts of the Near East. Encouraged by women in the community, it is primarily intended to protect chastity, deter promiscuity, and offer protection from assault. By 2013, UNICEF in conjunction with the Somali authorities reported that the prevalence rate among 1- to 14-year-old girls in the autonomous northern Puntland and Somaliland regions had dropped to 25% following a social and religious awareness campaign.

Somalia has one of the lowest infection rates on the continent. This is attributed to the Muslim nature of Somali society and adherence of Somalis to Islamic morals. a 2012 report from UNAIDS says that since 2004, estimates from 0.7% to 1% have been assumed.[319]

Although healthcare is now largely concentrated in the private sector, the country's public healthcare system is in the process of being rebuilt, and is overseen by the Ministry of Health. The current Minister of Health is Qamar Adan Ali. as does the Somaliland region in northwestern Somalia.[322]

Some of the prominent healthcare facilities in the country are , , and .

Education

Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, the task of running schools in Somalia was initially taken up by community education committees established in 94% of the local schools. Examples of this and other educational measures at work are the regional government's enactment of legislation aimed at securing the educational interests of girls, (ECD) program designed to reach parents and care-givers in their homes as well as in the ECD centers for 0 to 5-year-old children,

The Ministry of Education is officially responsible for education in Somalia, and oversees the nation's , , schools, as well as primary and technical and . About 15% of the government's budget is allocated toward scholastic instruction.[328] The autonomous Puntland and Somaliland macro-regions maintain their own Ministries of Education.

In 2006, Puntland was the second territory in Somalia after Somaliland to introduce free primary schools, with teachers now receiving their salaries from the Puntland administration. Total student enrollment increased by 27% over the previous year, with girls lagging only slightly behind boys in attendance in most regions. The highest class enrollment was observed in the northernmost region, and the lowest was observed in the under-populated region. The distribution of classrooms was almost evenly split between urban and rural areas, with marginally more pupils attending and instructors teaching classes in urban areas.[330]

Higher education in Somalia is now largely private. Several universities in the country, including , have been scored among the 100 best universities in Africa in spite of the harsh environment, which has been hailed as a triumph for initiatives., the , and the . In Puntland, higher education is provided by the and . In Somaliland, it is provided by , the , and .

(also known as dugsi quran or mal'aamad quran) remain the basic system of traditional religious instruction in Somalia. They provide Islamic education for children, thereby filling a clear religious and social role in the country. Known as the most stable local, non-formal system of education providing basic religious and moral instruction, their strength rests on community support and their use of locally made and widely available teaching materials. The Qu'ranic system, which teaches the greatest number of students relative to other educational sub-sectors, is often the only system accessible to Somalis in nomadic as compared to urban areas. A study from 1993 found, among other things, that about 40% of pupils in Qur'anic schools were female. To address shortcomings in religious instruction, the Somali government on its own part also subsequently established the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, under which Qur'anic education is now regulated.[331]

Cuisine

The cuisine of Somalia, which varies from region to region, is a mixture of diverse culinary influences. It is the product of Somalia's rich tradition of trade and commerce. Despite the variety, there remains one thing that unites the various regional cuisines: all food is served . There are therefore no dishes, is not served, nothing that died on its own is eaten, and no blood is incorporated. Qaddo or lunch is often elaborate.

Varieties of 'bariis' (), the most popular probably being , usually act as the main dish. Spices including , , , and are used to add aromas to these different rice dishes. Somalis serve dinner as late as 9 pm. During , the evening meal is often presented after prayers; sometimes up to 11 pm.

'Xalwo' () is a popular reserved for special festive occasions, such as celebrations or wedding receptions. It is made from , sugar, cardamom powder, powder and . are also sometimes added to enhance texture and flavour. (lubaan) or (cuunsi), which is prepared inside an incense burner referred to as a .

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