SRCS has implemented a community health project in 2020 in an internally displaced people (IDP) camp 15km from Galkayo District. This camp was established in 2017 due to severe droughts in the region. A population of about 6000 people has been forced to move to the area to find better condition for themselves and their livestock. Together with the leaders, three volunteers were identified from the community of the IDPs and trained in community health services, including community-based surveillance (CBS).
Beginning of December 2021, these volunteers reported on several children with fever and rash which are related to measles. Members of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Puntland State went together with SRCS to investigate the situation. They could identify ten children with the respective symptoms, of whom the families had previously refused to vaccinate their children. Health awareness activities were conducted, and infected children referred to the hospital where they were confirmed positive for measles. The detection of those measles cases come just after a recently declared Measles outbreak in the same region in August 2021. Puntland State MoH is currently planning another measles campaign in all Puntland regions together with SRCS to end this outbreak.
SRCS together with support of the Norwegian Red Cross has established a community health project in 2021 in the region, which includes epidemic preparedness activities.