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Mobile Medical Relief and Military Assistance in Somalia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Michael J. VanRooyen ,
Julia B. VanRooyen ,
Edward P. Sloan  and
Edward Ward
Michael J. VanRooyen*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Office of International Studies, Chicago, Illinois
Julia B. VanRooyen
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Office of International Studies, Chicago, Illinois
Edward P. Sloan
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Office of International Studies, Chicago, Illinois
Edward Ward
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Office of International Studies, Chicago, Illinois
*
University of Illinois College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Room 618, M/C 724, 1853 W. Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612USA
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Abstract

Introduction:

Mobile medical clinics were established by an international medical relief organization to provide health care to victims of the war in Somalia. The study's purpose was to examine the prevalence of diseases seen and the effectiveness of mobile medical clinics, and to evaluate military support in security and care provisions.

Methods:

This is a descriptive case series conducted over a 6-month period. Physicians determined clinical diagnoses, and clinic personnel assigned security scores (one to five) based on: 1) crowd control; 2) the incidence of looting; and 3) threats of violence by individuals demanding treatment.

Setting:

Mobile medical teams that provided health care to regions in urban and rural Somalia assisted by United States and Italian military forces.

Participants:

At 149 mobile clinics, 25,265 patients were treated.

Interventions:

Medical treatment included dispensing medications, intravenous rehydration, and minor surgical procedures. The effectiveness of security measures was scored based on: 1) effective crowd control; 2) the lack of theft or threats of violence; and 3) the unimpaired operation of the clinic.

Results:

Medical teams treated 25,265 patients. The most common medical problems encountered were skin infections (19.5%), upper and lower respiratory tract infections (16.1%), and gastroenteritis with dehydration (7.1%). Malnutrition was seen in 4.7% of cases, and trauma accounted for only 0.7% of complaints. When military escorts were provided, the mean security score was 43% higher (4.85 ±0.46) as compared to the absence of a military escort (3.40 ±0.60) (p <0.001).

Conclusions:

Mobile medical clinics were found to be effective in this setting despite difficult conditions, limited therapeutic modalities, and few in-patient facilities. Infectious diseases were most common, while malnutrition and trauma were less commonly seen. The cooperation of United States and Italian military forces facilitated relief efforts by maintaining security, particularly in unstable areas.

Keywords

clinicsdisastermilitarymobilereliefSomaliaUnited Nationswar
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 1995 , pp. 118 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1995

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