📍 Project Title: Provide integrated health and nutrition care services to vulnerable boys, girls, women, and men — including persons with disabilities — affected by high incidences of malnutrition and health crises in Beletweyne District, Hiran Region.
📅 Project Duration: September 2021 – August 2022
👥 Target Beneficiaries: 12,874 individuals
🏘️ Targeted Villages: Haskule, Kurtumaley, Qoydo, Dabeyl, and Sigalow — Beletweyne District
🤝 Funding Partner: SHF Somalia (UN-OCHA)
📘 Project Code: SOM-21/3485/RA2/H-Nut/NGO/19769
🩺 Sectors: Health and Nutrition
👨⚕️ Implementing Partner: HIDIG Relief and Development Organization (HRDO)
Project Summary
The project aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality among vulnerable populations affected by malnutrition and limited access to essential health services in Beletweyne District, Hiran Region. Through integrated health and nutrition interventions, HIDIG strengthened community-based service delivery, ensuring equitable access for women, children under five, men, and persons with disabilities.
Health and nutrition services were delivered through Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) sites in targeted villages, complemented by outreach and referral mechanisms to secondary care facilities.
Key Interventions
Nutrition:
- Screening of children under five and PLW for acute malnutrition (using MUAC and weight-for-height).
- Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases through OTP sites.
- Referral of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases to TSFP programs managed by partner agencies.
- Nutrition counseling and health education for caregivers on infant and young child feeding (IYCF).
- Distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and essential nutrition commodities.
Health:
- Outpatient consultations and treatment for common illnesses (malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and others).
- Maternal and Child Health services including ANC, PNC, immunization, and safe delivery.
- Health education sessions on disease prevention, hygiene promotion, and COVID-19 awareness.
- Referral of complicated cases to Beletweyne General Hospital and other secondary care centers.
- Inclusion of persons with disabilities and minority groups in all service delivery points.
Impact:
- 12,874 individuals reached with life-saving integrated health and nutrition services.
- SAM cases identified and successfully treated at OTP sites in all target villages.
- MAM cases referred for targeted supplementary feeding to ensure continuity of care.
- Improved maternal and child health outcomes, with increased ANC/PNC attendance and immunization coverage.
- Strengthened community health structures through trained community health workers and nutrition volunteers.
- Improved access and inclusion for persons with disabilities and minority groups.
Photo Caption:
HIDIG health and nutrition staff provide outpatient and nutrition services at Kurtumaley Village MCH/OTP site in Beletweyne District, Hiran Region. The intervention, supported by SHF Somalia (UN-OCHA), offers integrated health and nutrition care for vulnerable families, including children with acute malnutrition and pregnant and lactating women.