Background
In the World Health Assembly resolution “WHA71.7” dated 26 May 2018, it is stressed how crucial is digitalization in medicine “through the promotion of evidence-based digital health interventions”. The implementation of appropriate digital health technologies is a key component of a national strategy but may be difficult to accomplish especially in low- and middle-income countries as indicated in Global strategy on digital health (WHO) 2020-2025.
The digital health project aims to improve the quality of higher education in Somaliland by developing micro-credentials in digital health, which will equip future doctors with the necessary skills needed in the health sector.
The project directly addresses two overarching priorities under Strand 1 of Region 9: Sub-Saharan Africa:
1. Governance, peace, security and human development and sustainable growth and jobs (Human rights, social and economic rights, democracy, fundamental values, governance, citizenship, health, youth, gender, access and inclusion). DigHealth project is focused on improving the healthcare education in Somaliland
2. Sustainable growth and jobs: Skills, entrepreneurship, employability, links to the labour market and jobs creation, job opportunities, rural areas, private sector involvement. DigHealth project train doctors and healthcare personnel in Somaliland in telemedicine, a job domain highly needed.
Project Activities
- Needs and competencies analysis to better understand the gaps in digital health education and the design of the micro credentials courses.
- Equipping University of Hargeisa with modern equipment for training telemedicine.
- Development of the micro credentials educational program consisting of 30 ECTS credits, launching of digital health and training of healthcare providers on telemedicine.
- Engagement of different stakeholders in health including hospitals and health care centres to pilot test the digital health program.
- Countinous promotion of digital health among relevant stakeholders through multiple awareness raising actions both internally (at the level of the involved institutions) & externally (national, international level).
University of Hargeisa Outputs in the Project
- University of Hargeisa participated actively in the implementation of WP1 which aims to improve project management and coordination. Two representatives of the university of Hargeisa attended the kick off meeting in January 2025 in Greece. The partnership agreement was signed and the University of Hargeisa attended the online meetings on “Best practices for developing Digital Health education”.
- University of Hargeisa contributed to the elaboration of the questionnaire to better understand the gaps in digital health education and the design of the micro credentials courses. The questionnaire was distributed to relevant stakeholders to provide insights on digital health in Somaliland.
The European Union and Our Partners in Digital Health Project
We sincerely thank the European Union for funding this project under the Erasmus programme.
We also deeply appreciate our partners, RIT Croatia, University of Piraeus, Hrvatsko Katolicko Sveuciliste, Institute De Haute Formation Aux Politiques Communautaires, Addis Ababa University, Bule Hora University, Jigjiga University, Horseed International University and Somali Education and Youth Development Action for their continued partnership.
Your support and collaboration are vital to the success and progress of this initiative.