Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Collegiate Churches of New York has funded SAACID International
to build a children's health facility that will provide inpatient care
for severely malnourished children and their resulting medical
complications. It will be the first indigenous construction in 22 years
in south and central Somalia.
The Inpatient Malnutrition Stabilization Center will be integrated
with the existing network of 17 outpatient health and nutrition centers
across Mogadishu City. The outpatient centers have treated 27,467
severely malnourished children and another 75,682 moderately
malnourished children throughout the last 12 months. In addition to
treating severely malnourished children, the inpatient facility will
offer immunizations, nutrition and breastfeeding counseling and hygiene
promotion. All services and transportation will be free.
After extensive research, the Collegiate Churches decided that SAACID
(say-eed), meaning 'to help' in Somali, would be the organization where
its $100,000 grant would have the greatest impact. The project costs
about $300,000, with the contribution covering about one-third of the
total costs.
"What really struck me about SAACID, and part of the reason why
Collegiate decided to support them, is that as a local Somali
organization they can operate safely in underserved areas while
providing exceptional care for severely malnourished children," T.
Hunter Dare, a deacon for the Collegiate Churches and a former member of
its Outreach Committee. "This is the start of a relationship that both
SAACID and The Collegiate Churches hope will have a lasting impact on
poverty and starvation in the country."
The inpatient facility can serve about 2,000 severely malnourished
children annually, said Christy Sprinkle, Executive Manager of SAACID.
The construction has employed more than 100 people; the operations will
eventually employ 43 people, with the larger network employing more than
1,000 people. The four-ward building will have 48 beds. One of the
wards recently opened to conduct minor treatments until the formal
opening later in the summer.
The Collegiate Churches offers the opportunity to donate to their
Somalia relief effort through their website. Photographs of the
construction of the Inpatient Malnutrition Stabilization Center can be
found here.
The Collegiate Churches of New York
Established in 1628, The Collegiate Churches of New York has old, deep
roots in a great city, yet has embraced a thoroughly modern perspective
on spirituality and community in a greater world. Founded in the
tradition of Reformed Protestantism, they respond to the spiritual needs
of people today by embracing diversity, affirmation, openness and
justice. They consist of a single historic church with four city-wide
ministries. Each is unique in approach and character, but unified in our
core values of inclusion, self-exploration and positive thinking. As a
spiritual community they encourage people to search, discover and
flourish.
SAACID International
SAACID (say-eed - Somali, meaning 'to help') is an indigenous Somali,
not-for-profit, non-religious, non-political, Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO) founded and directed by Somali women, that focuses on
practical measures to enhance the life-options of women, children and
the poor. Originally founded in 1990, SAACID is now fully registered in
Australia, Somalia and the US. SAACID envisions all developing countries
as contexts in which all people can reach their full human potential.