The Somaliland government and the business community have agreed to partner up to purchase 300,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking at a meeting with business leaders in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s Minister of Finance Sa’ad Ali Shire said the Vice President.
“The President authorized for us to spend $1 million; we are seeking the remaining $2 million from the wider community.”
The Finance Minister said that Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi said the community take the initiative and assist in purchasing 300,000 doses of the vaccine instead of waiting for what is being delivered to them.
The business leaders said that they are prepared to pay their share in securing the vaccine.
Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail (Saylici) concluded the forum by thanking members of the business community.
“I am very grateful to the honourable businessmen for their generous contribution.”
Saylici, who himself tested positive with COVID-19 in early March, said the prevalence of Covid-19 infection in Somaliland was high, with a 15% to 20% increase of cases in March.
Somaliland has already received 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford through the World Health Organization’s global vaccine-sharing program COVAX. The vaccines were given to health care workers, teachers and government employees.
