Mercy-USA Receives New US Government Grant in Somalia
On September 14, 2007, Mercy-USA for Aid and Development received a new grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This grant, valued at over $300,000, will help us to open three new clinics and three feeding centers that will provide health and nutrition services to approximately 20,000 vulnerable women and children in south-central Somalia.
The three Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers are opening in the districts of Buloburte and Beletweyne in the Hiraan Region and in the Jowhar District of the Middle Shabelle Region. These MCH centers will primarily serve 1,400 pregnant and lactating women and 7,000 children in these isolated communities. Medical services provided will include prevention and treatment of malaria, diarrhea and other infectious diseases, immunization, pre-natal and post-natal care, as well as health education. Health education activities will focus on training and promoting awareness of best practices at the household level to prevent common illnesses and infections.
The three Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP) centers are opening in the districts of Buloburte and Beletweyne in the Hiraan Region. These SFP centers will primarily serve 14,000 children and 2,800 pregnant and lactating women in these isolated communities. The services provided will include emergency feeding for malnourished children, provision of vitamins, immunization and nutrition education activities. To promote improved feeding practices, Mercy-USA will carry out food demonstration exercises to train mothers on the preparation of balanced meals using locally available food.
Somalia has one of the highest child and maternal mortality rates in the world. One in four children dies before reaching the age of five and 1,600 women die for every 100,000 live births.
A September 2007 study by UNICEF estimates that 83,000 children in the central and southern parts of the country, where M-USA is working, are suffering from malnutrition and 13,500 of these children are severely malnourished and at risk of dying.
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