Scaling up of health services in Baidoa
From 3-5 March 2012, a WHO-led mission visited Baidoa town, Bay region. After the recent liberation of the area, the Baidoa hospital re-opened and was able to scale up the provision of health services. During the visit, WHO installed an operating theatre in the hospital and provided medical equipment and supplies for direct service delivery for the treatment of injured patients. WHO will organize trainings for doctors and nurses on emergency surgical procedures and comprehensive emergency obstetric care.
Control of Measles in Somalia
Worldwide the number of measles deaths fell by 78% between 2000 and 2008, from an estimated 733 000 in 2000 to 164 000 in 2008. Today, measles still kills globally nearly 450 people every day or 18 deaths every hour. In case of Somalia, the death rate has fallen drastically, but still thousands of people (incl. children) are dying each year. Samples of suspected measles cases from across Somalia are collected and confirmed by the laboratory investigation units in Hargeisa, Garowe and Mogadishu. Since 2005, Somalia has known a reduction of more than 75% in the number of measles cases.
WHO pre-positions medical supplies to respond to cholera cases in Somalia
The Health and Water and Sanitation clusters are disseminating ‘Stamp out cholera! campaign’ radio messages to the areas most affected by cholera. This activity will continue over the next four months. WHO has pre-positioned medical supplies at health facilities to respond to cholera cases. Measles cases are still being reported in most regions of South Central Somalia. Medical intervention is still challenging as access is limited and most implementing partners have been banned from the area.
Acute Watery Diarrhoea in Somalia
25 November 2011--Acute Watery Diarrhoea continues to be a major health concern in Somalia. The highest numbers of cases were reported in Banadir region with 3422 AWD/cholera cases and 24 related deaths. Children under the age of two bear the greatest burden of AWD accounting for 48% of all reported cases. Women and girls account for 36% of all reported cases at Banadir hospital. WHO has provided diarrheal disease kits which each can treat 500 cases, including 100 severe cases for the next three months.
