Liban and Afder are the two southernmost zones of the Somali region. Within these zones, the districts of Cheretti and Hargalle suffer poor quality education, healthcare and access to water. Although many districts in Liban and Afder have these problems, little development has taken place in Cheretti and Hargalle because they are not easily accessible.
Due to the lack of staff and equipment, the two hospitals in Hargalle and nearby Filtu are closed. The local population urgently needs trained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and other primary healthcare services, such as immunisation.
Primary schools in Hargalle and Cheretti are in desperate need of repair and reconstruction. Many of these schools have also become overcrowded as there is not enough space or furniture for all of the children to learn in classrooms. This has meant that many children are having their lessons outside in hot, dusty courtyards.
Rains continue to fail in the Somali region, which has seriously affected the health of the population and put a huge constraint on development. Water scarcity has also affected the livelihoods of many people, particularly pastoralists who rely on livestock and agriculture to make a living.
Project Objectives
- To support Cheretti and Hargalle’s education authorities so that they can deliver improved services to children in the area;
- To improve primary healthcare services by strengthening the capacity of the health service’s structure, knowledge and practices;
- To build 4 birkas (concrete water reservoirs) to improve access to water in the districts of Hargalle and Moyale.
Project Activities
- Training health-workers;
- Providing basic and refresher TBA training;
- Providing kits for TBAs;
- Supporting government programmes for immunisation, mother and child health and education;
- Providing books, desks and other teaching aids for primary schools;
- Training teachers.