Health and Nutrition in Somalia – PASOS’s Comprehensive Approach

Somalia remains one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in terms of health and nutrition with recurring droughts, floods, conflict and displacement worsening humanitarian conditions. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) over 7.7 million people nearly half the population require humanitarian assistance in 2024 – 2027 with 3.8 million facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above). The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only 30% of Somalis have access to basic healthcare while UNICEF estimates that 1 in 7 children dies before their fifth birthday primarily due to preventable causes such as malnutrition, diarrhea, and respiratory infections.

Acute malnutrition rates are among the highest globally with 1.8 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, including 513,000 severely malnourished a condition that increases child mortality by 11 times if untreated. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) links this crisis to failed rainy seasons, livestock losses, and rising food prices, leaving 3.5 million people in emergency hunger levels. Additionally, only 52% of the population has access to clean water, contributing to waterborne diseases like cholera, which affected over 15,000 cases in 2023 alone (WHO Somalia Emergency Report). PASOS’s Strategic Interventions To address these challenges, PASOS (Peace Action Society Organization for Somalia) implements a multi-sectoral approach in partnership with UN agencies, international donors, and local communities:

1. Emergency Nutrition Response

• Supporting Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programs, including therapeutic feeding centers and outpatient care for severely malnourished children.
• Distributing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and micronutrient supplements to pregnant women and children under five.

2. Strengthening Healthcare Systems

• Training community health workers (CHWs) to provide primary healthcare, immunization, and maternal-child health services in remote areas.
• Establishing mobile health clinics to reach internally displaced persons (IDPs) and nomadic populations.

3. Advocacy & Policy Engagement

• Collaborating with the Somalia Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WFP to align with the National Development Plan (NDP-9) and Somalia’s Food Security and Nutrition Strategy.
• Advocating for increased donor funding to sustain long-term recovery efforts.

Moving Forward: Sustainable Impact

PASOS remains committed to saving lives and building resilience in Somalia by integrating emergency relief with long-term development strategies. Through community empowerment, partnerships with UN agencies, and evidence-based interventions, PASOS contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health), and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). With sustained support, Somalia can overcome its health and nutrition crisis and achieve a healthier, more food-secure future.