Introduction
The recent studies have shown that infant mortality has increased in the horn of Africa. The horn of Africa especially the refugees camps have one of the utmost infant mortality rates in Africa. Approximately almost 800 children die every year. The causes for these flabbergasting figures of mortality rate are many (Unicef, 2005). One of the main causes of these deaths is the failure to immunize infants against disease. There is, therefore, a need to come up with immunization programs that will work in hardy to reduce infant mortality in this region.
The purpose of the report and recommendation
The following report and recommendation are directed to The World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO through its agents, associates and field officers, have the capacity and ability to help lessen the rate of infant mortality rate at the Horn of Africa. The report is aimed at sensitizing this organization on the importance of rolling an immunization program. This is in order to help lessen the rate and level of infant mortality rate in the Refugees Camps in the world and mostly in the Horn of Africa. The program is particularly necessary at this time if we are to save the lives of 250, 000 children currently living in the camps located in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea (Unicef, 2005).
Why this report is important
Reducing infant mortality is one of the core millennium goals. For a long time now, infant mortality has remained as one of the main challenges in developing countries with the horn of Africa been the most affected. This report and recommendation on immunization of the infants in the region will boost the 2015 millennium goal. The second importance of this report will be on boosting the economy of the countries in the region. This is because these countries have been directing most of their resources towards the fight of the disease that result from the failure to immunize these infants. Some of the diseases that are taken a big toll include the polio that may cause disability. If WHO addresses the roots of this problem, this will go a long way in ensuring that these preventable diseases are done away with. You will agree with me that children are tomorrow’s leaders and therefore we should work towards ensuring that they get the best from us all. Ensuring that these kids are health will not only reduce the mortality rate, but will also ensure a health society. A health society will in turn work hard and thus ensure that poverty in the horn of Africa countries.
Infant mortality prevalence in the horn of Africa
This report shows the rate of infection of diseases and the rate of death of children below the age of five. The report shows that 95% of children who die in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya lose their lives to what could be prevented. In the year 2011 alone, 3245 children died of TB in Dadaab Refugee Camp alone. This is 2.45% of the total children in the camp. 123 children died of polio while other 6754 were permanently paralyzed by the same. The number of children who died of whooping cough and related complications is 345 (Unicef, 2005). The report derived from the research carried shows that about 7564 children died by the end of year 2011 from other complications, which could be treated. The report further shows that unless the necessary action is taken, 14, 567 children will be dead by the end of the year 2015. This will represent 24.5% of all children the camps. The report shows that if the program starts immediately, 8.700 children will be saved. This is 59.72% of all the endangered children. The following pie chat shows the rate of infant mortality in the horn of Africa (Unicef, 2005).
Immunization program accomplishment
The immunization program will help lessen the mortality rate in the region. The report will act as a guide in fighting this problem. The recommendations made will acts as a guide in estimating the required financial factors, planning the mission. The whole exercise will require about $345,000,000 to make it a success. The amount will be used in paying salaries to the workers, buying of the required equipment, putting up and transporting of logistics and research. The time of achieving this will be about 18 months. The time required is for field research, setting up the logistics, hiring professionals and carrying out the actual exercise (UNICEF 2005). The regional governments and should also provide transport, infrastructure, security and personnel during the exercise. The United Nations should take part in financing this exercise.
Benefits that will be realized by this report
If WHO agrees to implement this report and recommendation, the following will be achieved:
I. Alleviation of the amplified infant mortality in the horn of Africa – implantation of this report will ensure that the infant mortality in all countries around the horn of Africa is reduced effectively.
II. Reduce the morbidity rate among infant in the region.
III. Lessen the prevalence of diseases such as whooping cough, polio and measles – today, it estimated that 800, 000 children die every year in the horn of Africa countries and thus this will be reduced if this immunization program is implemented. (UNICEF 2005).
IV. Protect the health of the region as a whole. When infants are protected, the whole community will as well feel protected.
V. By reducing the mortality rate, this program will as well boost the economy of the region as funds will be directed in other important programs. (UNICEF 2005).
The information about the exercise can be collected by use of both primary and secondary methods. In primary, the observers can visit the affected area and do their own observation of the conditions on the ground. In secondary, they can use secondary materials like health records in the area. These are adequate for the collection of the required information.
There is need to evaluate information it to make sure that it is credible and enough to make recommendations. In this case, there are different criteria that can be used to evaluate the information. Comparisons with other information sources can be used to verify the facts and figures provided. Consulting of experts should also be emphasized. This is because the experts have the ability to determine whether the information is realistic or not. In making of the recommendation, the information used has to be accurate and realistic. Therefore, these are some of the aspects that will be deliberated (Bill Hendrick, 2009-11-04).
Conclusion
The program will not only benefit the refugees but even the host states. The program will ensure that the whole world is working towards the millennium development goals. The consideration and evaluation of the reports and its recommendations will ensure that this happens swiftly and in the required time.
References
Unicef. (2005). Progress for Children: A Report Card on Immunization Issue 3 of Progress for children UNICEF."
Bill Hendrick. (2009-11-04). "Preemies Raise Horn of Africa Infant Mortality Rate". WebMD. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
