Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Fides Service) - Over the past two months, following the arrival of many displaced due to the drought, the hospitals in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, are short of medicines. Health care workers report that patients are dying every day caused by serious epidemics that are spreading across the country. The severe drought that has hit many parts of Somalia have increased the number of deaths caused by this phenomenon, even in areas where it was rare to have such problems . Hungry people move in search of help to the cities and to urban areas in the south-central part of the country. In a statement by the director of the largest hospital in Mogadishu, Banadir Hospital, says that the structure has finished its supply of medicines following the sudden increase of patients. The hospital is not supported by anyone directly, it takes advantage of the medicine provided by DBG (Daryeel Bulsho Guud), an NGO based in Germany, and UNICEF and WHO for medicine against diarrhea and measles. Most children arrive at the hospital in serious condition. Three or four out of 100 patients die every day because the basic necessities are lacking in order to assist them.
In the first 4 months of 2011, 160 children suffering from measles and other 440 in the second quarter, 1,228 suffering from diarrhea in the first quarter and other 2.003 in the second quarter were admitted to Banadir hospital. Epidemics spread more rapidly due to non-vaccination in areas currently affected by drought. In neighboring Kenya, where many Somalis seek shelter, the WHO and Unicef, together with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, are planning vaccination campaigns against measles and polio to 215 000 children under 5 years of age in Mogadishu and those living along the border, including the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, and the districts of Fafi and Lagdera and migration areas such as the Town Hall of Garissa. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 07/18/2011)
