Meet the heroic community health worker making a difference
Every day without fail, Hawa walks through the dusty pathways of the camp, visiting families and providing them with essential health services and education.
Galkayo, 17 April 2024: In the dusty streets of Salaam IDP camp, located 10km from Galkayo town, we meet Hawa Abdikadir, a young lady displaced by drought from her hometown of Wardeer on the border with Ethiopia. Hawa, 24, lives with her family in the camp.
Hawa’s parents made sure she completed her secondary school education, thanks to support from relatives and well-wishers. She says completing school changed her life forever. She was able to study for a diploma in health and graduated with a distinction, becoming a source of inspiration for her community and a role model to young girls in the camp.
It is clear that Hawa is dedicated to her work as a Community Health Worker (CHW). She is driven by compassion and a strong desire to help those in need, especially vulnerable families in the camp, despite the challenging conditions in which she works and the limited resources.
“Hawa started out as a volunteer. She gave her time and skills to our community free of charge, conducting health awareness sessions and offering moral support to those in need,” says Sacdia, a mother residing in the camp.
As Hawa's reputation grew, she caught the attention of the Puntland Minority Women Development Organization (PMWDO), a UNICEF partner working in the area. Impressed by her commitment and skills, they offered her a position as a community health worker and provided her with the necessary tools and training. Hawa accepted the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to reach more people and broaden her impact.
Every day, Hawa walks through the dusty pathways of the camp, visiting families and providing them with essential health information. She talks about the importance of hygiene, sanitation, and disease prevention, empowering them to take control of their own health. We meet her at Salaam Health Center where she is conducting an information session for mothers. The room is bustling, full of eager women and impatient children. The room lights up the moment Hawa walks in, smiles flashing across the faces of the mothers. She was a familiar face, one they had come to love and adore over the years.
“Seeing the impact of my work is what drives me. When I see families adopt the health practices that I have spoken to them about, it fills me with great joy, knowing that the information will have literally saved their lives,” she says.
Despite the challenges she faces as a displaced young woman, Hawa's resilience shines brightly. Through her work as a community health worker, she not only saves lives but also inspires many young girls to believe in their aspirations and to work towards achieving their goals.
With the financial support of the Government of Denmark, UNICEF provides community health workers with the necessary tools, training, and incentives to undertake their important work of providing essential primary health care services and lifesaving information.
