Somalia: Out goes Hunger, in comes Malaria as Rains Pound the Country
By Henry Neondo
MOGADISHU---As the rainy season begins in the Horn of Africa, humanitarian agencies have sounded an alarm of the dangers faced by 2.5 million people in Somalia.
According to WHO, UNICEF and other agencies, the already suffering people from drought, famine and conflict, are at risk of contracting malaria with the start of the rainy season.
"The health of many Somalis is already extremely compromised due to the drought and famine, especially children suffering from malnutrition. With the rains come an increased risk of malaria," said Sikander Khan, UNICEF Somalia Representative. "We must act as swiftly as possible to prevent deaths due to this deadly disease. We are working with our partners on prevention as well as providing treatment services as necessary."
To protect children and their families from contracting malaria, 280,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) will be distributed in the next few weeks to over 140,000 households in the drought affected regions of Hiran, Lower and Middle Shabelles and Lower and Middle Jubas in South Central Somalia, targeting people living in the most high risk areas. This is in addition to the 79,000 nets which have already been distributed since July.
In the overcrowded informal settlements of Mogadishu, where nets are not practical, a first round of indoor spraying that aims to reach 45,000 households will take place over the next month.
This will protect households from transmission for three to four months and will be followed by a second round of spraying in March and April next year.
In addition, partners are conducting campaigns to educate families about how malaria is transmitted, how to prevent getting malaria and where to seek care if someone contracts the disease.
As part of equipping health facilities with the capacity to diagnose and treat cases, 560,000 doses of effective anti-malaria drugs known as Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) and one million rapid diagnostic tests will be provided to health facilities, community level health posts and additional service delivery points established by partners.
“With these investments in prevention and treatment, and by encouraging people to seek treatment quickly, we can avoid the tragic impact malaria has on people’s lives.” said Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
More than 950,000 nets have been distributed in Somalia with funding made available through the Global Fund since 2002. The number of malaria cases in Somalia has decreased dramatically during recent years, from an estimated 1.73 million cases in 2005 to approximately 740,000 cases in 2009 - a 57 per cent drop.
The UK Department for International Development is also supporting this large-scale emergency response to malaria amidst the on-going drought and famine in Somalia to ensure adequate supplies of commodities to fight the disease.