By Goth Mohamed Goth
Vice President of Somaliland H.E Abdurrahman Abdallahi Ismail “Saylici”, today launched Somaliland Civil Society network for Scaling up Nutrition (SLCSN-SUN), at a ceremony held at the Mansoor Hotel, Hargeisa.
The goal of Somaliland Civil Society network for Scaling up Nutrition (SLCSN-SUN), is to promote sustainable improvement in nutritional status of the people of Somaliland, in particular women and children with a focus on the first 1,000 days of life, by creating a strong, coordinated and vibrant civil society network which will support further development and wider implementation of the national nutrition agenda.
Khadar Ahmed Director of the Anppcan Som and the chief of the Civil Society Network speaking at the function said, “In order to address the above gaps, ANPPCAN-SOM is currently spear heading and implementing a project in conjunction with the Somaliland Civil Society Network for Scaling-Up Nutrition (SLCSN-SUN) and with the technical and financial support from global pool fund for SUN civil society movements(15 Civil Society organizations). This project seeks to establish CSOs network to harmonize and coalesce their different advocacy activities to ensure coherence and unity in achieving optimal outcomes in nutrition. Ultimately, it is envisioned that a vibrant CSO networking will be working effectively to bring about notable difference in nutrition issues.
Ms. Amaal Dama- SLCSN-SUN Focal Point addressing those in attendance said, “The goal of the SLCSN-SUN is to unite dedicated civil society organisations to ensure a voice is given to a range of small, independent, regional and national organisations, so that they contribute to the national dialogue and achievement of Scaling-Up Nutrition. My message to our nation as the Secretary and Focal Point of SLCSN-SUN is that we should encourage more participation of CSOs across the country to join this alliance for collective action for promotion of healthy & well-nourished nation. The Scaling-Up Nutrition movement is a global movement led by many countries. This movement is unique by bringing different groups of people together-governments, civil society, the United Nations, donor, business and scientists- in a collective action to improve nutrition. Through working together, we are achieving what no one of us can do alone.
To promote sustainable improvement in nutritional status of adolescents, women and children of Somaliland using ‘1000 Days Approach’ through creating a strong, coordinated and vibrant civil society constituency alliance to support development and implementation of the Nutrition agenda under the leadership of SUN Champion Office and Ministry of Health and Development.
The VP in his speech said, “The Government of Somaliland is committed to Global SUN movement demonstrating their committed to deliver Sustainable solution in order to address nutrition in Somaliland and also urged fellow somalilanders to support the noble project which will enable the country to overcome malnutrition in the coming years.
Rates of acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition are alarming in Somaliland with some variations by regions and livelihood system. According to FSNAU, results from 30 separate nutrition surveys conducted by FSNAU and partners between November and December 2017 in Somaliland and Somalia indicate that the overall nutrition situation in Somaliland and Somalia has shown critical levels of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM 15-30%). Thus, one in six children aged 6 to 59 months are acutely malnourished and one in twenty-two, severely malnourished. Equally, pregnant and lactating women are estimated to be acutely malnourished. Results from FSNAU Meta-analysis of data from 2001 to 2009 highlight the chronic nature of this alarming situation. The results show that over this period, median rates of global acute malnutrition have remained at serious (10% to <15%) or critical (15% to 20) levels (WHO classification). Similarly, median rates of stunting were above 20% i.e. at serious level throughout the period 2001 to 2009, according to WHO classification (2000).
