The Health and Nutrition sector has been a priority for Vision Corps Initiative since its inception. Nutrition, reproductive health, immunization, communicable diseases, and health infrastructures are the key areas of Vision Corps Initiative support in this sector, together with health education and capacity building of health workers and communities. Support to Local Health authorities and committees in providing health and nutrition services; Support to Mother and Child Health Care Centers in providing Outpatient consultations, Immunization, Antenatal, and Postnatal care, Referral for pregnancy-related complications, Delivery – (basic) emergency obstetric care, Health education for mothers, Outreach activities and Promotion of health and hygiene.
Under this program Vision Corps Initiative implemented a polio project in the four districts of Dollow, Bardhere, El-wak, and Belet-Hawo in the Gedo region, Southern Somalia as a response to rising cases of Polio in the country. The project which was co-financed by ERC, CORE GROUP, and WHO and has established strong coordination with various stakeholders including the WHO, UNICEF, Local administration, and other key health actors in Southern Somalia. 29,794 children received supplemental immunization activities and routine immunization, 263 community health volunteers and WHO district polio officers trained and 546 key community stakeholders sensitized on community awareness on polio eradication.
Vision Corps Initiative also implemented a Malaria control project in Kismayu and Badhadhe intended to prevent malaria cases and improve access to effective diagnosis and treatment. Facility-based distribution of treated nets to communities living in higher malaria prevalence areas was done where pregnant mothers and children were given priority. A total of 32,538 persons were diagnosed and treated for the tropical disease. Vision Corps Initiative also provided training to local medical staff on the control, diagnosis, and treatment of Malaria. The training was conducted at different health institutions and demonstrations were done to fully equip the local health sector workers with useful skills and knowledge on ways of curbing the deadly disease. Vision Corps Initiative equally conducted, participated, and helped in Community social mobilization and awareness creation activities during the marking of Malaria Field Day and World Malaria day marked in Somalia and globally respectively in the fight against malaria eradication.
On Nutrition, Vision Corps Initiative implemented an Essential Package on Health Service (E.P.H.S) program in Kudhaa and Ras-Kamboni in Badhadhe district, Southern Somalia to elevate mothers and children from malnutrition and other health risks. 9,654 cases of under-five severe malnutrition kids treated helping children to reach their full developmental age, 16,459 under 5 children were reached through the Extended program on Immunization for diseases ranging from measles, polio, penta 1 and 3 and routine immunization, 3,556 mothers and infants were helped on Basic Emergency on Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) in order reduce mother to child deaths and 7,607 children under the age of five were put on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) program to boost their immunity. Gratitude goes to UNICEF which sponsored the project.
We have also implemented Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) intended to provide nutrition treatment to children under five, pregnant and lactating women in Kismayo town in 4 OTP sites, 5 TSFP sites, and one Stabilization center in Kismayo district, lower Juba region, Somalia. The project was made possible by Oxfam.
