Malaria Situation in Somaliland exNorth west Somalia

1
Malaria Situation in Somaliland(ex-North west
Somalia)

• Somaliland lies with the Sub-Saharan Africa at
  the horn of Africa where malaria is generally a
  major disease both in morbidity and mortality.The
  most common species of Plasmodium is Falciparum
  80 followed by Vivax 15.

2
Facts about the disease in the country.

• Malaria is Hypoendemic throughout the regions
• The whole country is prone to malaria epidemic
  except in some coastal areas where the climate is
  not favorable for malaria transmission.
• During epidemics there is significantly high
  cases fatality because of the lack of immunity in
  all age groups and because of the virulency of
  the specie of malaria
• Anopheles Arabiensis is the likely vector of the
  malaria transmission throughout the regions, but
  there is a possibility of other vectors that may
  transmit the disease.
• Malaria epidemics became more frequent after the
  war between Ethiopia and Somalia in 1977, and
  farther deteriorated during the war between the
  previous government and opposition groups.

3
Malaria control and Roll Back malaria initiative

• Malaria control activities are integrated with
  the other primary health care services.
• Special unit is established under the PHC Dept.
• WHO provides most of the drugs and lab
• laboratory supplies to all the regions in the
  country.
• Roll malaria initiative is adopted in principle
  in 1999.

4
Progress made in Roll Back Malaria

• WHO coordinator of RBMI for Somaliland and
  Somalia has visited the country and conducted
  several workshops.
• Several organizations such as Unicef has
  increased their support towards the control and
  management of malaria.
• Intersectoral collaboration has been advocated
  and improved.

5
Constrains of the implementation of RBMI

• Lack of specified funds
• In sufficient technically competent staff
• Unsatisfactory malaria control activities in
  place.
• Lack of awareness of the UN agencies involved in
  Health (except WHO and Unicef) on this
  initiative.

6
Conclusions and recommendations

• Roll back malaria initiative is still in
  embroyonic stage in Somaliland.
• Special officer should be nominated for RBMI
  within the malaria unit.
• Funds be allocated for the Initiative
• Strenghthen the surveillace system and epidemics
  preparedness
• Improve intersectoral and interagency
  collaborations.