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Catholic Mobile Clinic Extending Services to Somalia’s Far-flung IDP Communities

Trócaire's community health workers conducting health screenings in Dollow, Somalia. Credit: Trócaire

Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, is reaching out to the internally displaced people (IDPs) in Somalia’s hard-to-reach areas with health care services.

Through a mobile clinic initiative funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Trócaire says that thousands of IDPs in Kahare and Qansaxley IDP camps which are hard to reach have been reached with life-saving medical assistance.

They say in a Friday, August 3 report, “The services offered by the Mobile Clinics in the communities encompass outpatient consultations, health education sessions, community sensitization, and referrals facilitated by trained Community Health Workers.”

“The dedicated CHWs conduct door-to-door visits in these areas to identify illnesses, educate the communities, provide treatments, and refer severe cases to healthcare facilities for further medical intervention,” Trócaire officials say.

The officials of the Catholic Entity say that the initiative is realized in partnership with Caafimaad plus Consortium, humanitarian organizations dedicated to providing emergency life-saving interventions to populations affected by drought and conflict in Somalia’s hard-to-reach areas.

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Last year, more than 270,000 people benefited from the initiative through its health and nutrition programs.

Qansaxley is located in the region of Lower Shabeele in Southern Somalia. The area is approximately 71 Kilometers from Somalia's Capital city of Mogadishu. The region with the highest number of refugees in the country has been at the center of multi-dimensional conflict since 2007. The area has also experienced insecurity cases occasioned by the Al-Shabaab militia group.

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.