Kimse Yok Mu workers have started a larvacide campaign in the area, to the great appreciation of the locals.
The rainy season in Mogadishu lasts about two months and the number of deadly malaria cases increases during this time. The Somali capital has poor infrastructure, and puddles and mud -- breeding grounds for mosquitoes -- are prevalent at this time.
Kimse Yok Mu has brought equipment and chemicals for mosquito control in the region. The organization workers patrol the streets in their vehicles, spraying the puddles every day.
Orhan Erdoğan, the local coordinator for the group, said: “Malaria occurs frequently in Somalia. In most cases, children with weaker immune systems and the elderly give in to the disease and die.” He said larvacides were vital in fighting mosquito populations. “We also hand out malaria medication for free, as most of the locals can't afford the drugs. Locals really appreciate our services.”
Health projects are important to Kimse Yok Mu, which has put more than 200,000 patients in Mogadishu through health screening programs. Doctors from Turkey volunteer in these campaigns, which take place at polyclinics set up by the organization. Kimse Yok Mu hopes to build a hospital in the city in the near future.
Published on Today's Zaman, 18 May 2012, Friday
