Somalia continues to face a prolonged humanitarian crisis driven by recurrent droughts, floods, conflict, disease outbreaks, and widespread displacement. These ongoing challenges continue to increase food insecurity and malnutrition among the most vulnerable populations — particularly children, pregnant and lactating women, older people, and persons with disabilities.
Many women and children suffer from micronutrient deficiencies — including anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency — increasing their vulnerability to illness and mortality. Somalia also faces significant health system challenges, with high maternal and child mortality rates directly linked to limited access to quality healthcare services.
Horn International Relief and Development Organization (HIRDO) implements integrated health and nutrition programmes to improve the survival, health, and well-being of vulnerable communities across Somalia. The organization works closely with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Ministry of Health, and the Banadir Regional Administration (BRA) to deliver essential services for children under five, pregnant and lactating women (PLW), IDPs, older people, and other vulnerable populations.
Health Services
Supported by UNICEF, HIRDO delivers integrated primary healthcare services alongside nutrition interventions to improve access to essential healthcare and reduce preventable illness and mortality across target communities.
Key Health Activities
Outpatient consultations and treatment of common childhood illnesses
Maternal, newborn, and child health services including antenatal and postnatal care
Immunization and vaccination support for children and mothers
Growth monitoring and health screening at community level
Health education and community awareness sessions through CHWs
Referral of complicated cases to higher-level health facilities
Community outreach through Community Health Workers (CHWs)
Disease prevention, surveillance, and health promotion activities
Nutrition Services — CMAM
HIRDO implements Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programmes through both Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTP) and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programmes (TSFP) — treating different levels of acute malnutrition in children under five and pregnant and lactating women.
Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP)
OTP services treat children aged 6–59 months suffering from uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) on an outpatient basis — allowing children to remain in their communities while receiving life-saving treatment.
Key OTP Activities
Provision of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) — Plumpy'Nut
Routine medications: antibiotics, Vitamin A, folic acid, deworming, measles vaccination
Weekly anthropometric monitoring, appetite testing, and physical examinations
Referral of complicated SAM cases to stabilization centres and inpatient care
Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP)
TSFP services target children aged 6–59 months and pregnant and lactating women affected by Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) — providing specialized nutritious food and nutritional support to prevent deterioration into SAM.
Key TSFP Activities
Provision of specialized nutritious foods — RUSF and Plumpy'Sup
Community screening using MUAC measurements and nutrition assessments
Admission and follow-up of MAM cases and OTP discharge patients
Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling and caregiver education
Nutrition education and hygiene promotion sessions
Routine growth monitoring and recovery tracking
HIRDO's Approach
HIRDO works to strengthen community systems and improve access to integrated health and nutrition services — with a focus on prevention, treatment, and resilience building. Services are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to community needs, with particular attention to women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities. HIRDO collaborates closely with:
UNICEF Partnership
UNICEF supports HIRDO's OTP nutrition and primary healthcare services through therapeutic foods, essential supplies, technical oversight, and quality assurance systems.
World Food Programme
WFP supports TSFP implementation by supplying specialized nutritious food commodities and strengthening nutrition recovery services.
Ministry of Health & BRA
HIRDO aligns all health and nutrition activities with national health policies, nutrition protocols and government strategies.
World Health Organization
WHO provides technical guidance and support for disease surveillance, outbreak response and health system strengthening initiatives.
HelpAge International
HelpAge strengthens inclusive programming and ensures older people and persons with disabilities are represented across health and nutrition interventions.
OXFAM GB & No Means No World
HIRDO collaborates on integrated approaches linking nutrition, health, protection and community resilience programming.
Integrated & Inclusive Approach
HIRDO adopts an integrated approach that combines health, nutrition, WASH, protection, and community engagement. Services are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to community needs — with particular attention to women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities. Through strong partnerships, technical expertise, and community-based delivery systems, HIRDO continues to improve health and nutrition outcomes while strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities across Somalia.
