September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of hunger and inspire action to end it. While the Avery Dennison Foundation doesn’t currently have operations in Somalia, and doesn’t normally fund global hunger nor food insecurity, it does prioritize funding to communities facing the greatest need. The food disparity in Somalia, and the response of Action Against Hunger compelled us to support. Communities and geographies of highest need are identified using the United Nations Development Program Human Development Index, which assesses human development based on health, education and standard of living.
ADF grantee Action Against Hunger plays a crucial role in the fight against child malnutrition in Somalia, a region severely impacted by one of the worst droughts in 40 years. Action Against Hunger’s extensive work at the Makkah and Baidoa Stabilization Centers addresses a critical need in a region with the highest record of drought-related displacement, estimated at over 600,000 people. In Somalia, approximately 50% of the population faces food insecurity, with rising acute malnutrition rates compounded by health issues such as infection, diarrhea, and malaria.
With 95% of its field teams sourced from local communities, Action Against Hunger has built a strong reputation for delivering nutrition and health services in humanitarian settings, particularly among the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers, and children under five. The organization is a trusted technical partner to the Somali government and other major funders.
While the Makkah hospital is funded through the French Embassy Centre de Crise et de Soutien, the Avery Dennison Foundation’s grant supports the Makkah Stabilization Center, a vital component of the Makkah Hospital in the Kahda District of Somalia. The Center provides in-patient treatment for children with complicated severe acute malnutrition who need hospitalization. Support includes medical supplies such as gloves and masks, staff salaries and disinfectants to maintain the space.
According to Aron Flasher, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships at Action Against Hunger, “Saving lives is the project's most impactful component. Secondarily, the Stabilization Center allows us to provide malnutrition treatment in the same location as the hospital, thus preventing the need for patients to travel to a separate location to receive services. This improves outcomes by reducing the risk of further travel for children with compromised immune systems and helps conserve community resources.”
When children and families arrive at the hospital, all children are screened for signs of malnutrition. Those identified as malnourished are triaged based on severity, with the most severe being referred to in-patient care at the hospital. Others are referred to the Stabilization Center, where children and caregivers receive fresh food and treatment supplies to take home to continue treatment, such as Plumpy'Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food designed to treat severe acute malnutrition in children. They also receive training on best feed practices, healthy diets, lactation, and infant and maternal care.
