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Catholic Entity Using “integrated community” Approach to Reach Out to Needy in Somalia

Fadumo Islow with her two-year-old son, Mohamed, in the Trócaire-run hospital in Luuq, Gedo Region, southern Somalia after eight days of treatment. Credit: Trócaire

Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, has adopted an approach dubbed “Integrated Community Case Management” in reaching out to victims of the protracted drought in Somalia. 

In a report published Thursday, May 18, Trócaire officials say the intervention in the Horn of African nation is being realized in partnership with the European Union (EU) where one million people have been affected by the prolonged drought situation.  

“As part of the drought response, Trócaire is adopting an Integrated Community Case Management Approach (iCCM) to treating childhood illness with projects funded by EU Humanitarian Aid,” the officials of the Irish Catholic entity say.

They explain that “key to this approach is training Community Health Workers to reach the most vulnerable in Internally Displaced Persons camps and communities in hard-to-reach areas in Somalia.”

The Community Health Workers, Trócaire officials say, “can diagnose and treat multiple illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria.”

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In Somalia’s three districts of Belet Hawa, Dollow, and Luuq, the officials of the Catholic entity say that about “184 Community Health Workers have been trained under the EU grant.”

They add that the trained health workers are capable of reaching “over 158,040 people with health and nutrition services including 46,965 children under the age of five, in the three districts.”

In the May 18 report, Trócaire officials also express concern about Somalia’s drought situation, which they say has rendered millions of people homeless.

In the report, the story of Mohamed, a two-year-old boy in the Trócaire-run hospital in Luuq, Gedo Region, Southern Somalia, who was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition and pneumonia is recounted.

“Mohamed was referred to the hospital for treatment by two Trócaire-trained Community Health Workers who called his house on a visit to his village. This action probably saved his life,” the officials say.

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They add, “The health workers were so concerned at his condition they arranged for him to be transported immediately to Luuq district Hospital, 19 kilometers away, for assessment.”

At the health facility, the officials say that the boy was treated for eight days until his condition improved as he regained his required weight.

Fadumo Islow, the mother of Mohamed is quoted as saying following the recovery of her son, “I am so happy for the support and treatment that my child received, and I do thank Trócaire, particularly the Community Health Workers from my village who referred me and my child to the hospital to get help,” 

In the May 18 report, Trócaire officials say, “An estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five are ‘acutely malnourished’ in Somalia, and millions of people are leaving their homes, where they have lived for generations, in search of basic health care and food,”

“Somalia is in the midst of a critical hunger crisis experiencing its fifth season with no rain. The worst drought in 40 years has been driven by climate change and has left more than half of the population of 15 million people food insecure,” they further say.

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Besides benefiting from a project that the EU funded, Trócaire officials say that Ms. Islow is among the beneficiaries of a relief program that the World Vision International (WVI) and World Food Programme (WFP) funded.

Trócaire officials add that Ms. Islow who has received $80 since February 2023, which has gone towards food for Mohammed and his brothers and sisters, was also given advice on family nutrition and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.