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Courtney Essary
The International Health Awareness Network (IHAN), based in New York City (USA) and headed by Dr. Sorosh Roshan, is planning to undertake an immunization and public health program this summer in Hargeisa. Dr. Roshan and her team are coordinating with the Somaliland Minister of Health and the Hargeisa Group Hospital to complete this endeavor.
IHAN is a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information and accredited by ECOSOC (the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations). The organization was conceived in 1987 by Dr. Roshan at the "End of the Decade Women's Conference" in Nairobi, Kenya, during the United Nations' Third World Conference on Women and has been building momentum ever since. IHAN is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations. The organization’s mission includes advancing women's and children's health at local, national and international levels through education; collaborating with the United Nations and other organizations to design and implement programs and policies that improve women and children's health and quality of life; and educating, empowering and providing health care to women and children with a focus on socioeconomic disadvantaged groups.
Every year IHAN supports at least one program or field project in collaboration with the host country. This year’s project will be undertaken in Somaliland and will focus on primary health care. Stage I of this project, to be completed in July, aims to renovate the Hargeisa Group Hospital and vaccinate approximately 30,000 children in the area against common childhood diseases.
In November 2002, IHAN participated in a fact-finding and need assessment mission to Somaliland. IHAN determined that the Hargeisa Group Hospital, the only public hospital, is in dire need of renovation. The hospital infrastructure, medical supplies, and equipment require dramatic improvements in order to meet the basic health care needs of the community. The needs of the Hargeisa community are great as the majority of women examined during this assessment mission suffered from the consequences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). There are many cases of pelvic inflammatory diseases, vesico vaignal and rectal fistulas that need to be attended to. IHAN would like to adopt the Hargeisa Group Hospital and its constituents to ensure that their needs are met on an on-going basis. The project team will include U.S. trained doctors, nurses, and support personnel. This team will partner with the Ministry of Health of Somaliland and the local healthcare providers through the Hargeisa Group Hospital.
In order to ensure the most sustainable outcomes, the Somaliland Project is determined to undertake two more Stages with the Somaliland Project. Stage II is scheduled to take place during the summer of 2004. The Project Goals for this stage include a complete renovation of the operating room and of the medical library. Stage III should occur during the summer of 2005. The main goal of this stage will be to revitalize the medical school in Somaliland and ensure that the medical staff is as well-educated as possible according to the rigors of modern medicine.
The estimated cost of Stage I will be approximately $25,000. This figure includes the cost of updated technology and equipment, new linens and windows, and the replacement of the Hospital’s windows. IHAN has been soliciting funds from individuals and appealing to grant-making organizations, but there is still a need for most of the funds. If you or anyone you know would like to donate your time or resources to this project, or would like further information, please contact Dr. Sorosh Roshan at 212-721-0119 or soroshr@hotmail.com. The mailing address for IHAN is 160 West 66th Street, Suite 57B, New York, New York, 10023, all checks should be made out the International Health Awareness Network with the phrase ‘Somaliland Project’ written in the memo space.
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