Rumors can be like viruses, spreading a disease of half-truths and lies, and damaging the health of communities. And during a pandemic, the power of rumors is magnified by the very real threat of disease and death. “At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that misinformation was going to affect our COVID …
Responding to the COVID-19 Surge in India India is currently fighting a wave of COVID-19 that is sickening hundreds of thousands — and killing thousands — every day. We’re continuing to work with local partners to provide critical care at overwhelmed healthcare facilities and COVID-19 treatment centers throughout the country. We are working with our …
Maryan Abdi Mohamed is many things. She is a 31-year-old married woman who is the mother of six children, and she is a successful entrepreneur. Maryan lives in the Kaafi settlement for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Until recently, she worked as a laundress in private homes. Then she joined …
When COVID-19 arrived in Somalia in 2020, it joined a multitude of challenges faced by the nation. Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and desert locusts are devastating food supply in a country where 2.6 million people are internally displaced. On top of that, nearly a year into a deadly pandemic, violence has soared following an election …
As the global COVID-19 vaccine rollout gets underway, humanitarian organizations such as International Medical Corps are using their expertise in community health to mount effective vaccination campaigns in the countries where they work. With our decades of experience managing outbreaks of infectious disease—from helping to eradicate wild polio in Africa, to supporting cholera vaccinations in …
Earlier this year, Hawalul, a mother of five, rested her hands on her swollen belly, feeling the gentle movements of a new life growing inside her. Then she took a deep breath, swallowed her fear and walked purposefully into a health center in Mogadishu for her midwife appointment. Her apprehension was understandable. Six years ago, …
Decades of protracted conflict and other emergency situations in Somalia, such as drought and floods, have led to displacement of an estimated at 2.6 million people, and increased the number of vulnerable women and girls. Breakdown of family and social protection networks and social/cultural norms, as well as gender inequality, have exacerbated the situation, limiting …
40-year-old Fadumo Mohamed resides in Horumar Village in Galkayo, Somalia, with her husband and six children. Like any mother, she was elated when she gave birth to her most recent child. However, the village had no health facilities and she was forced to make long trips to a facility far away to seek health and …
For 30-year-old Fadumo Hassan Jim’ale, the pain and disappointment that comes with losing a child is too familiar. Last year, the young mother lost her unborn baby during labor. After the loss of her child, Fadumo—who lives with her husband at Midnimo IDP Camp in Galkayo, Somalia—became more determined to take good care of her …