Primary Health and Nutrition

Delivering equitable, lifesaving, and preventive health and nutrition services to reduce morbidity, protect dignity, and strengthen community resilience.

Accessible Care, Improved Outcomes

Essential Health Access, Integrated Nutrition, Sustainable Community Systems

ADA’s health and nutrition programming is designed to reduce preventable illness and mortality among vulnerable populations, with a focus on women, children, and displaced communities. In fragile and underserved regions of Somalia, ADA delivers lifesaving services that address both acute and chronic health challenges, integrating nutrition, maternal and child health, and disease prevention into a unified care framework.

Services are delivered through fixed and mobile health units, stabilization centres, outpatient therapeutic programs (OTP), and community outreach. ADA’s model emphasizes early detection, integrated case management, micronutrient supplementation, and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) support. The organization works in close collaboration with community health workers, local authorities, and partner agencies to ensure coverage, continuity, and impact.

Cross-cutting issues such as gender-based violence, disability inclusion, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) are embedded within all health and nutrition interventions. ADA aligns its programming with national health strategies and international standards, investing in system strengthening, workforce training, and community awareness to promote sustainability and long-term health resilience.

Core Areas of Health and Nutrition Work

Preventive Care, Acute Response, and Integrated Support Systems

ADA’s health and nutrition strategy focuses on six core components that ensure comprehensive coverage of essential services. These interventions combine emergency response with preventive care and community-based systems that strengthen long-term health outcomes. Each area reflects ADA’s commitment to quality, equity, and rights-based service delivery.

Maternal and Child Health Services

Delivering antenatal, postnatal, newborn, and child health services in target areas.

Nutrition Screening and Treatment

Identifying and managing acute malnutrition in children and pregnant mothers.

Infant and Young Child Feeding

Supporting optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding through IYCF programs.

Health Outreach and Mobile Clinics

Extending essential services to hard-to-reach and displaced populations.

Stabilization and Therapeutic Care

Operating inpatient and outpatient facilities for severely malnourished children.

Community Health Worker Training

Building local capacity to promote health awareness and deliver basic services.