The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has launched a project “to reduce the alarmingly high number of child deaths related to pneumonia and diarrhoea in Somalia.”

The project was launched in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), which is set to equip 28 health facilities across ten selected drought- and pneumonia-affected districts with solar-powered oxygen concentrators.

The world body said in a joint statement in the Somali capital of Mogadishu that “the Every Breath Counts project aims to increase access to medical oxygen and set up mother and child healthcare.

“The project also aims to establish oral rehydration centres and provide integrated health facilities in fragile humanitarian settings in Somalia.’’

Child mortality from all causes in Somalia was among the highest in the world, according to the WHO.

It was noted that a child born in Somalia today is about 16.5 times more likely to die before the age of five than a child born elsewhere.

The UN health agency also stated that “Every Breath Counts aims to reduce pneumonia and diarrhoea-related morbidity and

mortality among children less than five years of age in the project’s target districts.

“The project will also provide 90 oxygen cylinders, 15 baby incubators and four ambulances in total to the selected health facilities and help set up 15 triage and oral rehydration centres.”

According to the WHO, an estimated 230,127 children under five years of age and more than 3.3 million community members will benefit from the project interventions.

It said over 700 health workers would be trained on screening, outreach, and treatment procedures during the project.

“KSrelief is investing in the future of Somalia by providing self-sustainable and environment-friendly solutions and ensuring that selected health facilities can run various medical procedures.

“This is especially for children and women without power interruptions,’’ said the supervisor general of KSrelief Abdullah Al Rabeeah.

The under-five mortality rate in Somalia currently is 117 per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the sub-Saharan African average of 76 deaths per 1,000 live births, the WHO said.

Approximately 21 per cent of these deaths among children less than five years of age in Somalia were attributed to pneumonia. Eighteen per cent to 20 per cent of the deaths were attributed to diarrheal diseases.

(Xinhua/NAN)