The health problems of somalia can be shortly defined as gathering of 4 major problems. All the world is complaining of these four devastating issues, but in somalia these factors are widely ignored and, in the absence of central government, they have remarkably incapacitated the health situation in somalia.
The four categories, as I classified them, are these:
1. Infectious diseases; the biggest problem in africa as a whole. Somalia has several recent outbreaks and epidemics of easily preventable diseases like dengue fever and cholera, and is experiencing also many endemic diseases like Malaria, TB, AIDS, ENT infections, repiratory and gastrointestinal infections and infestations. These diseases spread easily and effectively whenever possible means are found.
2. Non-communicable diseases; these are, in my opinion, the second major health problem somalia is suffering from. Diseases like gastric ulcer, renal diseases, hepatic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, different types of cancer, and others are universally affecting the population, especially old age group, and you can hardly find a family without all these diseases. These diseases are lacking minimal care and diagnostic techniques which makes hard to detec them early or even correctly diagnose them.
3. Disabilities due to accidents, wars, etc; in somalia, as there is no security and safe environment for any one, people with gun shots and disabilities due to car accidents and pumb explosions are easily seen when you walk in the streets. Because of the hazards and insecurity of somalia, wars and political and tripal conflicts can explode any moment leaving many victims either dead or injured. Furthermore, the unbaved roads, old vehicles, less experienced drivers, and overpacking of passangers cause accidents on daily basis leaving a respectable number of mortalities and morbidities all over somalia. The burrial of chemial and nuclear waste materials has also a part in the unknown and unusual deaths happening in the country. The external manipulation of somalia situation by other countries is a leading cause of instablity and inability to apply health promotion measures in the country. The orfans produced by ongoing wars and War crimes are also parts of this major problem.
4. Health problems due to ignorance and malpractice; this is a major problem in somalia, if not all africa. The ignorance of people accounts for many problems like using false drugs, neglecting serious illnesses, late visits to hospitals after the disease has already progressed to late stage, going wrongly to the herbal and traditional healers who make the problem even worse. Malpractice of physicians and hospitals has also participated in the mortalities and morbidities that could have been easily dealt with. These two issues are responsible for the increased number in infant mortality and under 5 year mortality. Also maternal mortality, which somalia has it's highest number in the whole world, is a part of this I suppose.
Problems like poverty, malnutrition, floods, and climate problems are major problems, but confined to some parts unlike others and they are social and environmental factors associated with health but not a causative factors like the above mentioned categories.
These are in short, as I think, the major health problems in somalia today.
In the coming days, I would like to talk about the methods of prevention and modes of intervention for these problems as they need to be seriously dealt with.
The solution of the worsening health situation in somalia, my dear readers, does not need highly qualified hospitals and modern technology to be reduced. But, as well, they need to be first noticed. I mean to know that we are having a really serious and exterminating health situation that is easily preventable or treatable. It needs a public awareness and professional training for those incharge. It needs careful plans and priority based long term schedules. Wait for the coming sessions to know how this can be achieved.
Ciise Dheere.