Access to Health Care Safe Water and Hygiene in Somalia - Save the Children 2014

March 2014 - Conflict insecurity and drought have left 3 million people in Somalia (up to 40% of the population) in need of humanitarian assistance in 2014. Nearly 900 000 people face acute hunger and 1 million remain displaced from their homes. Child malnutrition rates in the country are among the worst in the world and access to medical care is extremely limited With DFATD’s support Save the Children Canada is helping to meet the humanitarian needs of up to 137 000 Somalis displaced by conflict and drought. Project activities include: (1) supporting four community health centres through the provision of training drugs and equipment; (2) supporting two outpatient feeding centres for the treatment of malnutrition; (3) maintaining two boreholes and 1 350 latrines (serving some 50 000 displaced people); and (4) training 30 community health workers and 40 community nutrition workers to provide outreach services and disseminate knowledge of proper health hygiene and nutrition practices.

The expected immediate outcomes of this project include: (1) improved access to health care and treatment for malnutrition; (2) improved access to safe water and proper sanitation; and (3) increased capacity to support and knowledge of proper health hygiene and nutrition practices. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people particularly women and children.