- Project Background
HIDIG have been implementing health and nutrition integrated program in Beletweyne district through two static health facility and three IERT teams/outreach teams, the project aims in providing integrated immunization services to the vulnerable under five children and pregnant women through improved uptake of disease preventable vaccination through out the 12 months, most notable activities target population were the vulnerable rural and hard to reach areas in Beletweyne such as Kurtumaley and Haskule locations where majority residing population were either vulnerable women and children from pastoral and minority Somali Bantus along the Shabelle rivers who have no access to any health services.
In response to the above need HIDIG organization have been partner with Somalia Humanitarian funds (SHF) and have been actively undertaking the vaccination/immunization services to these vulnerable population across the five-target health and nutrition services while also ensuring the same population have access to free outpatient consultations and outpatient therapeutic treatment hence the beneficiaries were reach with multi sectoral services.
In view of the above project target population HIDIG have in this final quarter ensured that the under five children and poor pregnant women have increased services as per the project initial plan.
2. Activity Achievement in reporting Quarter
HIDIG has conducted routine and supplementary immunization to 4,445 children under the age of five years (2,302 boys and 2,143 girls) against measles and other communicable disease and 905 Women of child bearing age with protective dose of tetanus (TT) including the disable population through outreach Integrated emergency response service delivery sites at IDPs in Beletweyne district.
This has been achieved through immunization campaigns as well as regular day to day immunization schedule.
| Quarter/months | May | June | July | August | Total |
| Target <5 boys | 502 | 533 | 602 | 665 | 2,302 |
| Target <5 girls | 432 | 498 | 605 | 608 | 2,143 |
| Pregnant mothers | 145 | 189 | 267 | 304 | 9,05 |
3. Challenges
There were few challenges noted in this reporting period this were :
- High number of families have moved to Beletweyne town from far rural areas such as Kurtumaley while also rural pastoral communities from Badiken in Bakol Boarder to Hiran have moved in Kurtumaley areas with higher number of children unvaccinated hence.
- Severe drought coupled with poor livelihood in the area compromise poor health status with limited access to assistant.
- Poor community perception on immunization specially these newly drought displaced population from areas where previously were control of AS hence taking time to convince the parent to vaccinate their children.
4. Lessonslearn
Community health education integrated with infant and young child feeding counselling as well as close nutrition intervention with health lead to higher output for the already poor families in both rural and hard to reach areas a well as the urban location.
5. Wayforward
The project has come to an end when the needs in the area is way above the threshold in humanitarian setting and thus HRDO have the following as a way forward.
- Intensify the resources mobilization for the activity continuation to enable ensure live of vulnerable children and mothers is saved.
- Appeal through the cluster to ensure the area is prioritized for the next round of allocation of SHF if any.
- Coordinates with the local administration in Beletweyne Hiran region to note the gap in the locations.
6. Project implementation photos
HIDIG qualified nurse undertaking immunization and health education on vaccine important at Kurtumaley static MCH