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Core competency gaps among Somalia's disease surveillance workforce: a cross-sectional study
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi1, Abdullahi Mohamed Mohamud2,3, Marian Muse Osman4,5
1Department of Health Emergencies, Federal Ministry of Health, Mogadishu, Somalia.
The Pan African Medical Journal
|August 2, 2026
Summary
Somalia
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Global Health Security
Background:
- Disease surveillance is crucial for global health security.
- Fragile settings like Somalia face significant human resource and capacity challenges in surveillance.
- Frontline surveillance officers' competencies are vital for early detection and response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the training, competencies, and geographic distribution of surveillance officers in Somalia.
- To identify critical gaps in skills and experience among district and regional surveillance personnel.
- To inform strategies for strengthening disease surveillance capacity in Somalia.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2025.
- 68 active surveillance officers (72 District, 18 Regional) completed a self-administered questionnaire.
- The questionnaire assessed demographics, training history (IDSR, FETP), and self-reported competencies.
Main Results:
- High training coverage for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) but low Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) participation.
- Limited outbreak investigation experience for several key diseases and low proficiency in GIS and Power BI.
- Uneven geographic distribution of officers, with underrepresentation in peripheral regions.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in advanced epidemiological skills, specialized outbreak experience, and workforce equity.
- Prioritizing FETP enrollment, targeted training, and upskilling in data analysis tools are recommended.
- Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance Somalia's disease detection and response capabilities.
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