Training Somaliland's next generation of doctors and nurses
In Somaliland, there are just 197 doctors, 1,256 nurses and 344 midwives serving the population of around 3.5 million.1 This falls far short of the WHO-recommended minimum threshold of 23 health workers per 10,000 population.
Each year through the King's-Somaliland partnership, 45 UK health workers and educationalists deliver online, undergraduate courses in subjects including internal medicine, surgery, radiology, neurology, nursing, midwifery, research and communication skills. The courses address gaps in expertise amongst Somaliland teaching staff and provide students with increased opportunities for practical, case-based discussion.
King's volunteers have also worked with partners in Somaliland to design a new national curriculum for medical students, and national standards for assessing medical, nursing and midwifery schools. These are crucial steps in standardising the quality of courses delivered to medical students and ensuring the curriculum aligns to the country’s population health needs; as well as strengthening regulation and quality oversight of courses provided by health faculties, in line with international standards.
Strengthening Triage and Primary Trauma Care in Somaliland