Bringing essential healthcare to hard-to-reach communities

The arrival of the COVID-19 outbreak stretched the weak health system in Somalia and the capacity to provide basic health services in remote areas. Yet, routine lifesaving services for the pregnant women, mothers and their children newborn babies need to continue, ensuring they will not die from preventable causes.

30-year old Kadra walked for two hours in the early hours to bring her daughter to be immunized at a health centre in Baki, Somaliland. “I know the vaccines will protect her and make her stronger,” she said, holding her little girl. She stands outside the centre with other women and children, waiting to see and consult the nurses and midwives. 

The health workers at the centre have encouraged mothers, like Kadra, to continue children’s immunisation as it will protect them from killer diseases, such as measles.

"I know the vaccines will protect her and make her stronger."

Kadra, 30-year old mother

A community health worker has been posted outside the health centre to welcome the patients, advise everyone to a minimum 1-meter physical distance from the others and make sure all patients and caretakers wash their hands. All visitors are also advised on how to protect themselves and their children from COVID-19 and how to detect the symptoms. By putting the prevention measures into place, the health workers hope mothers will feel safe to come to the health centres.

The staff has learned to apply these measures as part of UNICEF-supported training on how to prevent and control the spread of the virus. This includes the use of personal protection equipment, handwashing and other hygiene measures, and triage (separating COVID-19 patients from others). Equipped with these skills, healthcare professionals can mitigate the spread of the virus and keep themselves and their patients safe.

As part of the SHINE programme, UNICEF and partners, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government, continue providing essential health services to hundreds of thousands of Somalis. This means guaranteeing clean, functional health facilities equipped with water, soap and electricity, are within the reach of more women and children. It also entails supporting the training, retaining and managing nurses, midwives and other health workers with expertise in newborn and child health care.

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