Jigjiga, April 2025 – In a major step toward strengthening emergency healthcare delivery, the Somali Regional State (SRS) Health Bureau has officially handed over eight emergency response vehicles to hospitals and health centers across the districts of Fiq, Beercaano, Shinile, and Moyale.

The initiative is part of SRS’s broader health policy, which focuses on responsive service delivery and addressing community concerns through timely interventions. Each vehicle is fully equipped for emergency medical response and is expected to significantly enhance the region’s capacity to provide rapid healthcare in critical situations.

The vehicles were procured under the Sustainable Development for Health (SDH) project, which is funded by the European Union (EU). The procurement cost totaled 25 million Ethiopian Birr. The handover ceremony, held in Jigjiga, was attended by senior health officials including Dr. Muuse Ahmed, Head of the SRS Health Bureau, as well as representatives from implementing partners and local stakeholders.

Speaking during the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Maxamed Ayaanle Xasan emphasized the importance of the vehicles to the region’s health infrastructure.

“The handover of emergency vehicles to four districts previously served by the EU-funded project marks the continuation of a program that ran for three and a half years and supported these districts and their hospitals,” he said.

The SRS Health Bureau highlighted that the newly delivered vehicles will play a key role in strengthening the link between communities and health facilities, particularly in underserved and remote areas. The project reflects continued collaboration between regional authorities and international partners to improve healthcare access, resilience, and emergency readiness across the Somali Region of Ethiopia.

This handover marks another milestone in SRS’s ongoing efforts to decentralize healthcare services and build stronger, more responsive health systems for all its citizens.