- Somalia's healthcare system is severely strained, with an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 people needing long-term care but only three physical rehabilitation centres for a population of 18 million.
- Global aid cuts, including from the US and UK, have exacerbated the crisis, leading to the closure of over 400 health and nutrition facilities in the past year.
- Aid workers describe a deteriorating situation where erratic funding makes planning impossible, breaking the fragile chain of care for patients injured by conflict or suffering from preventable disabilities.
- Alexandre Formisano of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlights that the lack of consistent funding and basic healthcare access means many people are forgotten, losing trust in the system.
- Despite rising humanitarian needs and a severe shortage of trained physiotherapists, rehabilitation is often deprioritised, risking the dignity and independence of those who rely on these vital services.
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