I think the money Puntland get from oil exploration is going to be put to good use. Good on Farole.
GAROWE, Somalia May 24 (Garowe Online) - A child healthcare campaign officially kicked off Saturday in Somalia's Puntland region, where the regional leader also laid the founding rock at a new mental institution, Radio Garowe reports.
Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the president of Puntland, launched the Child Health Days (CHD) campaign at a ceremony held at the Puntland Development and Research Center in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State.
Somali children in Puntland The event was attended by officials from the Puntland Ministry of Health, led by the Minister, Dr. Bashir Ali Bihi, and representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The five-day CHD campaign will primarily focus on prevention of chicken pox and polio diseases. Further, the campaign would benefit some 230,000 children and 300,000 mothers across Puntland regions, officials said.
Ministry of Health officials said this is the first time the CHD campaign is taking place in Puntland since its inception as a federal state in Somalia in 1998. Beneficiaries of the health program would consume Vitamin A pills, fight against stomach worms and drink clean water.
"It is both a religious duty and a parental duty to have children participate in this vital health campaign," President Farole told the crowd at PDRC. A small boy became the first beneficiary after the President used a vaccine drop on him.
Officials said the CHD campaign would take five days, employ 3,000 workers and 430 vehicles.
New hospital
Also Saturday, President Farole officially laid the foundation rock at a new facility that will function as Puntland's only mental institution.
The governor of Nugal region, the mayor of Garowe and the new director-general of the newly established Puntland Agency for Social Welfare (PASWE) were all present at the historic ceremony, which was held at a location in the outskirts of Garowe.
Puntland leader lays founding rock The new mental hospital will be jointly constructed with funding from the Puntland government and local businesses, with Dahabshiil money-wiring company already contributing the first US$20,000 donation. READ: Puntland leader launches welfare agency
Since his election in January, President Farole has successfully worked with the business community in joint ventures particularly in the social sector. In February, the Puntland leader agreed with the business community in Bossaso, the region's key port, to finance the expansion of Bossaso General Hospital.
Separately, Puntland-based telecommunications company Golis agreed with the government to install road signs along the 750km-long tarmac road that connects the region's main towns.
Located in northeastern Somalia, Puntland declared itself a self-governing state within a Federal Republic of Somalia. Dr. Farole became Puntland's third elected president in a peaceful parliamentary vote on Jan. 8, 2009.
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