Hargeisa (SLpost) – Somaliland has reached a new milestone in digital health development following the completion of a National Epidemiological Dashboard under the Somaliland Health Information System (SHIS) Project, according to the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF).
The dashboard is designed to enable senior officials at Somaliland’s Ministry of Health Development (MoHD) to access disease surveillance data and monitor epidemiological trends directly from their offices. The system is expected to strengthen early awareness of potential disease outbreaks and support more informed public health decision-making.
According to TaiwanICDF, the new platform represents an important step in improving Somaliland’s capacity to collect, access and use health information for disease surveillance and public health planning.
By making epidemiological data more accessible to health officials, the system could help authorities identify emerging health threats, monitor disease patterns and improve the coordination of public health responses.
Taiwan–Somaliland cooperation in digital health
The development forms part of ongoing cooperation between Taiwan and Somaliland to strengthen public health systems through digital innovation and institutional capacity-building.
TaiwanICDF said the initiative reflects efforts to transform health data into actionable insights that can help protect communities and improve public health surveillance.
The successful development of the dashboard marks progress in Somaliland’s efforts to modernise its health information infrastructure. Its practical impact will depend on the quality and timeliness of the data entered into the system, its integration with existing surveillance processes and the ability of health officials to use the information effectively.
Strengthening public health preparedness
Effective disease surveillance is essential for identifying outbreaks early, monitoring the spread of infectious diseases and guiding the allocation of public health resources.
The completion of the National Epidemiological Dashboard comes at a critical time for Somaliland as health authorities strengthen preparedness against Ebola and other infectious diseases. By improving access to disease surveillance data and enabling officials to monitor epidemiological trends, the system could help the Ministry of Health Development identify unusual patterns, assess emerging health risks and make more timely, evidence-based decisions.
When integrated with airport and border screening, trained healthcare personnel and established outbreak-response mechanisms, the dashboard could become a valuable tool in strengthening early warning capabilities and coordinating Somaliland’s response to potential Ebola threats across the Horn of Africa.
A centralised epidemiological dashboard can provide decision-makers with a clearer overview of disease trends, potentially improving the speed and quality of responses to emerging health risks.
However, the completion of the dashboard does not, by itself, establish that the system is fully operational nationwide or that it has already improved outbreak detection.
TaiwanICDF’s role in Somaliland’s development cooperation
The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) is Taiwan’s development cooperation organisation. It works with partner countries to promote socioeconomic development, strengthen human resources and expand international economic cooperation.
TaiwanICDF supports Somaliland’s socioeconomic development through initiatives in Public Healthcare and Medicine, Education, Agriculture, information and Communications Technology. The newly completed National Epidemiological Dashboard marks another milestone in this partnership, strengthening digital health infrastructure and disease surveillance.
Somaliland–Taiwan cooperation across key sectors
Taiwan’s support for Somaliland extends beyond healthcare and digital transformation to include financial sector development and maritime security. In the financial sector, Taiwan’s Central Deposit Insurance Corporation has partnered with the Bank of Somaliland to strengthen deposit insurance, banking stability and institutional capacity. The two sides have also advanced plans for technical cooperation to support the development of Somaliland’s deposit insurance framework.
In maritime security, Taiwan has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening Somaliland’s coastal protection capabilities and promoting cooperation across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These efforts include a coast guard cooperation agreement and the launch of the Taiwan-funded Red Sea Fusion Centre Project.
Together with the Somaliland Health Information System Project, these initiatives illustrate the breadth of Taiwan–Somaliland cooperation across public health, financial institutions and maritime security.