Horn of Africa Institute of Public Health - Similar companies

A wide range of factors shapes the health of populations, animals, plans and their shared environment. Modern movements of pe ... ople and international trade have not only created endless economic opportunities but have also developed mechanisms for enhancing the spread of disease-causing organisms, environmental pollutants, and bioterrorism. The devastating socio-economic disparities and effects of natural and manmade disasters such as frequent droughts and famine have underscored our need to develop more effective approaches to public health preparedness in the region. The Somali-Horn region has been devastated by frequent and prolonged manmade security, political, economic, social and environmental instabilities and disastersOur challenge is to address the impact of such events and provide insights into the complex ways these domains interact to affect health in the Somali-Horn. Health in the Somali-Horn today is poor. It is estimated that the under-five and maternal mortality rates are among the world's highest. Under-five mortality is amongst the highest in the world. One out of every seven Somali children dies before seeing their fifth birthday (child mortality is estimated at 137 deaths/1,000 live births), with a higher number in the south and central Somalia. Additional leading causes of infant and child mortality are illnesses such as pneumonia (24 percent), diarrhea (19 percent), and measles (12 percent), as well as neonatal disorders (17 percent). Undernutrition is an underlying factor in over a third of deaths. read more