Case study: Newborn and child health—Nasir’s village

Home » Global Health » Global Health case studies » Case study: Newborn and child health—Nasir’s village
Headshot of Joanna Breems, MD, FACP · Clinical Assistant Professor
Joanna Breems
MD, FACP · Clinical Assistant Professor
envelope icon phone icon
Two years later
The dry season was increasingly severe in the village where Nasir and her family lived.

Historically low rain fall caused the river to dry, and the crops of the prior 2 years yielded no food. Increasing conflict between government and militants meant no international aid had reached her village in the last 9 months.
Nasir and her family decided to leave, walking 8 days to reach a refugee camp in Kenya.
Nasir’s son has developed diarrhea, and she takes him to the hospital in the refugee camp as soon as she arrives.
The camp has makeshift latrines and access to a daily ration of food and water. There is a central clinic/hospital run by international NGOs with basic supplies:
Chlorine/Iodine, oral rehydration solution, Malaria treatment, a limited amount of IV fluids and a small number of antibiotics.

There are no laboratory or radiography services

Image and details adapted from Misery Follows as Somalis Try to Flee Hunger.
See more at Driven by drought. (New York Times.)

Return to discharge from the hospital

Continue to Nasir's son, Hassan