WHO and Action Against Hunger Deliver Critical Health and Nutrition Aid in Drought-Stricken Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia – Abdia Adan makes her way back to Garasbaley Health Centre in Kahda district, Banadir Region. This time, it’s for the final check-up of her 8-month-old son, Mohamed. Unlike previous visits, there’s a spring in her step; young Mohamed is thriving. Back in November 2023, Abdia rushed him to the center, feverish and vomiting. Diagnosed with pneumonia and malnutrition, Mohamed’s turnaround owes much to Abdia’s care and the top-notch medical attention he received here.
Nestled in the Sodonka camp of Kahda, a Mogadishu district, Abdia’s family wrestles with the hardships of the lingering drought crisis from 2022–2023. Her husband’s scant earnings as a teacher barely feed their family of seven. Over a million people, displaced by conflict, drought, and floods, now crowd into camps in Mogadishu. Life in these camps is a grind, with scarce access to essentials like water, sanitation, food, and healthcare, raising the specter of diseases and malnutrition.
To counteract the critical spikes in disease and malnutrition, WHO in Somalia launched an emergency response, partnering with Action Against Hunger, a global NGO, along with the Juba Foundation, a local ally in the Lower Shabelle region. This effort was fortified by the timely aid from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
The emergency initiative rolled out seamlessly. Disease surveillance squads, community health workers, and health centers provided pivotal, lifesaving interventions. WHO and Action Against Hunger avoided duplicating efforts and streamlined patient referrals, ensuring more vulnerable individuals in targeted areas received assistance. Collaboration boosted the project’s efficiency through shared resources and insights.
Garasbaley Health Centre, where Abdia took her son, exemplifies the project’s success. Abdia, a 4-year camp resident, recognized the community health workers and often witnessed them sending ill children to facilities like Garasbaley, fostering hope among families.
The initiative reinforced disease surveillance teams and bolstered health service availability at Garasbaley Health Centre and others. Consequently, Mohamed received proper medical treatment, including amoxicillin, paracetamol, vitamin A, and therapeutic food, contributing to his recovery.
The project’s ripple effect reached close to 15,000 drought-impacted individuals in Banadir, Bay, and Lower Shabelle regions, delivering critical health and nutrition services. These included outpatient consultations, safe childbirth services, vaccinations, antenatal and postnatal care, nutrition support, and mental health services.
The story of Mohamed and his family underscores the power of cooperative efforts, community involvement, and access to quality healthcare and nutrition in crisis-stricken areas. It highlights the tangible benefits of collaborations like that of WHO and Action Against Hunger with local communities and partners to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable populations.
