Essay on Health in Somalia

The challenges are due to a shortage of professional health staff, poor governance, lack of enough financial resources and decentralization of the health sector due to the war (Somali health care system and post-conflict hybridity, 2010). The poor health sector has affected the vulnerable society significantly. Somali has a high child and maternal mortality rate caused mainly by malnutrition and diseases which are very common in Somalia such as tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea, cholera as well as polio (Somali health care system and post-conflict hybridity, 2010). High maternal mortality I due to lack of midwives to aid pregnant women during childbirth; most midwives have fled the country due to the previous war that was in Somalia (Health System Profile – Somalia, 2011). Children rarely get vaccinated due to lack of proper health facilities; thus leading them exposed to childhood diseases and leading to their high mortality rate (Health System Profile – Somalia, 2011).

The strategies are taken by the WHO are: providing evidence on the NCDs through surveys conducted by the WHO to create awareness about the non-communicable diseases (WHO-Communicable disease risk assessment and interventions, 2006). The researchers educate people on the burden of NCD and ways to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases. The WHO has supported Somalia in improving its health facilities for mentally ill people; the initiative is aimed at making the living conditions for mentally ill people comfortable. Population displacement with overcrowding, flooding, interruption of safe, clean water, vector breeding and poor health services are factors that increase the risk of communicable diseases in Somali. The WHO has developed ways to reduce the risk of infectious diseases. Which is why they have endorsed the WHO strategies on health education and practice of health promotion in Somalia.

Somalia has one of the highest rates of female genital mutilation which the people of Somalia believe is tradition and a rite of passage for the women. According to UNICEF, about 95% of girls aged 4-11 in Somalia undergo female genital mutilation. The practice of FGM poses a great risk to the girl’s health as it creates room for developing genital infections as well as creates a high chance of death during childbirth. Somali women are segregated and treated as lesser beings according to their culture. The availability of well-trained health workers is minimal. Most doctors and nurses in Somalia have insufficient knowledge and experience in the health sector. Health facilities in Somalia are few and not easily accessible to most first world countries like the USA.