Rebuilding Trust in Somalia’s Health System

Meeting people Where They are

In East Africa, maternal and child health outcomes remain some of the most inequitable in the world. While global maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 2000, Somalia continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, 117 deaths for every 1,000 live births. These are not just numbers; they are lives, families, and futures cut short.

At TIP, we believe every mother and child deserves access to care that is timely, trusted, and tailored to their needs. That’s why we are working to strengthen primary healthcare systems by investing in trusted relationships, real-time data, and resilient frontline health workers.

In partnership with the Banadir Primary Health Care Consortium (BPHCC), we brought E-Heza, our digital maternal and child health platform to Somalia. Today, E-Heza is fully translated into Somali and live on the ground, marking a milestone in the delivery of digital health solutions in fragile settings.

From Paper to Personalised Care 

Community health workers (CHWs) in Mogadishu are now being trained to use E-Heza to monitor children’s growth, track nutrition, and deliver evidence-based care. By replacing outdated paper systems with a digital platform, frontline providers can follow families over time, identify warning signs early, and deliver consistent, personalized care; care that is grounded in trust.

This is more than just a technical solution. It’s a shift toward care that meets families where they are, both geographically and culturally.

Restoring Trust, One Meal at a Time 

Before we could rebuild Somalia’s primary care infrastructure, we had to address an urgent and deeply human crisis. When USAID funding was cut, clinics in Mogadishu ran out of food. Mothers stopped coming. Trust collapsed.

Our response was immediate. We delivered Aheza Fortified Porridge (CSB+) to health clinics, ensuring families had access not just to care but to nourishment. This small but significant act reopened the doors to health services. Mothers returned not just for food, but for the compassionate, high-quality care that followed.

At TIP, we know that hope begins when families are seen, supported, and served with dignity. With E-Heza in hand and fortified nutrition on-site, community health workers in Somalia are now better equipped than ever to deliver care that heals, connects, and transforms.

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