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Addressing Child Malnutrition in Mogadishu
SAACID's network of 8 nutrition centres across Mogadishu city has identified and treated over 6,000 severely malnourished children and over 27,000 moderately malnourished children since beginning operations in September 2009. The programme plans to expand to 16 centres in 2010. The following is an account of one centre's experience.In September 2009, SAACID began a new nutritional treatment programme for children in Mogadishu City. This programme was funded and supported by a SAACID long-term partner, Oxfam Novib. The programme was also strongly supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The programme began in 8 of Mogadishu’s 16 districts, and, based upon need and success, the programme would then be expanded to the remaining 8 districts.
The programme has been an outstanding success, admitting and treating more than 32,000 children in 7 months.
One of the districts that were lucky enough to have a nutritional centre (Community Therapeutic Care – CTC) opened was Wadajir District in the south of the city.
Each site has 17 staff that operate in various functions, so that malnourished children in their district have a chance at life. The Wadajir centre has had 12,464 mothers and their children visit the centre for testing in the first 28 weeks of operation. Some 4,469 were admitted as moderately malnourished, and some 1,311 have been admitted as severely malnourished.
Shamso Abdulaahi Osman is one of the 3 female nurses who operate at the centre. Shamso completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing at Mogadishu University in 2009. Shamso had worked at Arafat Hospital while she was studying for her degree. She heard that SAACID was advertising for new nursing staff on the radio and the newspapers in Mogadishu. She completed the application and testing process, and was successfully selected to work with SAACID on the new nutritional programme. Shamso is currently tasked with severely malnourished cases.
Farhio Abdulahi Hussein is also tasked with treating severely malnourished cases. Farhio finished her university degree in 2006, and had worked with MSF Belgium in Guri’el, Galgaduud Region in 2006-7; and in 2007-8 she worked for MSF Holland in Mogadishu, before she successfully applied for a position with SAACID.
Asma Abdi Hassan completed her university degree in nursing in 2009. She also successfully applied to be part of the programme; and was trained by Valid International and now successfully treats moderately malnourished cases.
All women have loved working in the nutrition programme since it began. They all travelled to Burao in Somaliland, and were trained by Valid International and Oxfam Novib. Upon return, they were immediately into the thick of operations. In their first week, 400 mothers and their children visited their centre for testing. Some 146 were admitted.
“The most amazing thing that I have thus far witnessed was the recovery of a very severely malnourished child that I was sure would die”, Shamso said. “The child was so weak. It seems impossible that she had any chance; but he survived. Even the District Commissioner came to the site, and congratulated us on our dedicated work. Such cases make me so proud to have the opportunity to work on such a programme”.
“I agree with Shamso”, Farhio said. “There are some extremely malnourished kids that come in. You think ‘there is no way this kid is going to survive’. Yet a month or two later, there they are, smiling, bubbling with life. It’s just amazing what can be achieved. Having such successful cases has really bonded the team at Wadajir closely together. Before the programme began, none of knew each other. Now, because of these very sick kids, we are close friends, and the team bonds are very strong. It is such a joy”.
Asma also agreed that it was a wonder to see children be bought back from the brink of death. “I am always in awe when it happens. Even in a few weeks you can see an amazing difference. SAACID is such a patriotic organisation to have the vision to mobilise partners such as Oxfam to do such lifesaving work”.
“Yes”, said Farhio, “if there were two more organisations like SAACID, then I don’t think the country would have passed through the tough times that it has had to endure”.
Shamso also agreed, “SAACID has raised the moral of all the poor people in the city. Without SAACID there would be no hope at all. They are in the hearts of all the poor people. I love my job, because we are making such a vital difference”.
The programme has been an outstanding success, admitting and treating more than 32,000 children in 7 months.
One of the districts that were lucky enough to have a nutritional centre (Community Therapeutic Care – CTC) opened was Wadajir District in the south of the city.
Each site has 17 staff that operate in various functions, so that malnourished children in their district have a chance at life. The Wadajir centre has had 12,464 mothers and their children visit the centre for testing in the first 28 weeks of operation. Some 4,469 were admitted as moderately malnourished, and some 1,311 have been admitted as severely malnourished.
Reception at the Wadajir District site
Shamso Abdulaahi Osman is one of the 3 female nurses who operate at the centre. Shamso completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing at Mogadishu University in 2009. Shamso had worked at Arafat Hospital while she was studying for her degree. She heard that SAACID was advertising for new nursing staff on the radio and the newspapers in Mogadishu. She completed the application and testing process, and was successfully selected to work with SAACID on the new nutritional programme. Shamso is currently tasked with severely malnourished cases.
Shamso
Farhio Abdulahi Hussein is also tasked with treating severely malnourished cases. Farhio finished her university degree in 2006, and had worked with MSF Belgium in Guri’el, Galgaduud Region in 2006-7; and in 2007-8 she worked for MSF Holland in Mogadishu, before she successfully applied for a position with SAACID.
Farhio
Asma Abdi Hassan completed her university degree in nursing in 2009. She also successfully applied to be part of the programme; and was trained by Valid International and now successfully treats moderately malnourished cases.
Asma
All women have loved working in the nutrition programme since it began. They all travelled to Burao in Somaliland, and were trained by Valid International and Oxfam Novib. Upon return, they were immediately into the thick of operations. In their first week, 400 mothers and their children visited their centre for testing. Some 146 were admitted.
“The most amazing thing that I have thus far witnessed was the recovery of a very severely malnourished child that I was sure would die”, Shamso said. “The child was so weak. It seems impossible that she had any chance; but he survived. Even the District Commissioner came to the site, and congratulated us on our dedicated work. Such cases make me so proud to have the opportunity to work on such a programme”.
“I agree with Shamso”, Farhio said. “There are some extremely malnourished kids that come in. You think ‘there is no way this kid is going to survive’. Yet a month or two later, there they are, smiling, bubbling with life. It’s just amazing what can be achieved. Having such successful cases has really bonded the team at Wadajir closely together. Before the programme began, none of knew each other. Now, because of these very sick kids, we are close friends, and the team bonds are very strong. It is such a joy”.
Asma also agreed that it was a wonder to see children be bought back from the brink of death. “I am always in awe when it happens. Even in a few weeks you can see an amazing difference. SAACID is such a patriotic organisation to have the vision to mobilise partners such as Oxfam to do such lifesaving work”.
“Yes”, said Farhio, “if there were two more organisations like SAACID, then I don’t think the country would have passed through the tough times that it has had to endure”.
Shamso also agreed, “SAACID has raised the moral of all the poor people in the city. Without SAACID there would be no hope at all. They are in the hearts of all the poor people. I love my job, because we are making such a vital difference”.
Abdi Ali Mohamed is a screener and tester at the site. He completed
secondary school in a rural town, and travelled to Mogadishu to study IT
and English. His family did not have the money for him to go to
university.
“I love my job. We are working for the poorest of the poor – people who have no money to go to private clinics. We get to treat them for free; and virtually all are cured. It is very satisfying”.
“Yes”, said Shamso, “and we also see so many children who have been taken by their mothers to private clinics, and they still come in very malnourished. Yet, after going through our programme, they come out cured. It is so great to see”!
“I support this programme, as it is focussed upon the poor - people who have nothing - people who have no hope. It is great that SAACID has decided to do this programme; but I want them to extend the programme to all 16 districts, as I know the needs are just as great in the other districts that have no centres”.
Hamdi Abdulle Mohamed is responsible for stock and distribution at the site. “I 100% support this programme. It does such a remarkable job. It helps so money poor people; and thousands of children would be dead without this support”.
Cuulo Afrah Hilowle is a 32-year old mother. She is cleaner at the site. She agrees with Hamdi, saying that, “many children have benefited from this nutrition program, and, without SAACID’s support; there many children would have starved. SAACID is the most prestigious organisation in Mogadishu and become well known for supporting poor people”.
Even the security guards at the site are gushing with praise for SAACID, the staff, and endless stream of women and children coming to the centre to receive free treatment.
“I was a hard militiaman in the area. Then I got the opportunity to come and be a security guard at the centre. I was quite sceptical. Now I have been here for 6 months, and I am so happy to be a part of this programme. SAACID is just great. They are always thinking of the poor, no matter which clan. We are all part of SAACID’s clan now. The programme is changing the life of thousands of children. It is changing my life. I am a believer of life now”.
“I love my job. We are working for the poorest of the poor – people who have no money to go to private clinics. We get to treat them for free; and virtually all are cured. It is very satisfying”.
“Yes”, said Shamso, “and we also see so many children who have been taken by their mothers to private clinics, and they still come in very malnourished. Yet, after going through our programme, they come out cured. It is so great to see”!
Abdi
Hawo Mohamed Warsan was a primary school teacher under the old regime of
Siyad Barre, which fell in 1991. She is also a teacher graduate from
SAACID’s women’s Teacher’s Training Institute. It is a 2-year programme
that provides Somali women with education and training opportunities.
The Institute is also funded by Oxfam Novib. Hawo is employed as a
weigher and measurer.“I support this programme, as it is focussed upon the poor - people who have nothing - people who have no hope. It is great that SAACID has decided to do this programme; but I want them to extend the programme to all 16 districts, as I know the needs are just as great in the other districts that have no centres”.
Hawo
Hamdi Abdulle Mohamed is responsible for stock and distribution at the site. “I 100% support this programme. It does such a remarkable job. It helps so money poor people; and thousands of children would be dead without this support”.
Hamdi
Cuulo Afrah Hilowle is a 32-year old mother. She is cleaner at the site. She agrees with Hamdi, saying that, “many children have benefited from this nutrition program, and, without SAACID’s support; there many children would have starved. SAACID is the most prestigious organisation in Mogadishu and become well known for supporting poor people”.
Cuulo
Even the security guards at the site are gushing with praise for SAACID, the staff, and endless stream of women and children coming to the centre to receive free treatment.
Abdisalaan
“I was a hard militiaman in the area. Then I got the opportunity to come and be a security guard at the centre. I was quite sceptical. Now I have been here for 6 months, and I am so happy to be a part of this programme. SAACID is just great. They are always thinking of the poor, no matter which clan. We are all part of SAACID’s clan now. The programme is changing the life of thousands of children. It is changing my life. I am a believer of life now”.