Life-saving health and nutrition program to crisis-affected populations in Beletweyne district, Hiraan region, Somalia. The proposed program will provide high-quality and free health and nutrition services through 2 static Maternal and Child Health clinics (MCHs) namely, Ceel Jalle HC and Bundaweyn HC (health and nutrition services) 2 mobile teams (10 outreach sites) and at the community level. This three-pronged approach is part of Mercy-USA's strategy to respond to populations' immediate and medium-term needs under distress by supporting the public health facilities and the Ministry of Health to implement health and nutrition interventions in line with available guidelines.
Program implementation will take the form of facility-based and outreach services, reaching directly 52,646 vulnerable people (15,889 Men, 24,667 Women, 5,924 Boys, 6,166 Girls), including 7,867 people with disabilities.
Mercy-USA will increase access to and utilization of quality health services with a special focus on maternal and neonatal health by ensuring that every level of the health pyramid is adequately supported. Mercy-USA will adopt EPHS guidelines that guide and track patients over time through an essential array of health services spanning across different levels. EPHS aims to strengthen the links between home, first-level facilities, and hospitals, ensuring the appropriate care is available at each stage. Emergency Reproductive Health Services for underserved and hard-to-reach populations, including safe motherhood through clean delivery, family planning, and emergency obstetric care, will be provided. Additionally, health staff will be trained to provide GBV services, including case management and psychosocial support. 
Facility and community-based Basic Nutrition Services Package (BNSP) will cover curative and preventative interventions targeting children under 5 years old (boys and girls) and pregnant and lactating women. Screening for malnutrition among children lt5 and PLW will be conducted primarily at the community level, though this screening will also occur at the health facilities by nutrition staff. 
Mother-led mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening approach will be used, where mothers are trained to screen for acute malnutrition in their children by measuring MUAC and testing for oedema. Malnourished women and children will be admitted to the relevant OTP or TSFP programs. Complicated cases of SAM will be referred to the stabilization centre. 
According to IMAM guidelines, children in the nutrition program will receive relevant micronutrient supplementation such as iron/folate and Vitamin A. Women in prenatal care will receive treatment for anemia if required as well as micronutrient supplementation, and postnatal women will be supplemented with Vitamin A.
This program will promote optimal nutrition and IYCF practices that are beneficial to child survival and development by focusing on the promotion, support, and protection of EBF for children and appropriate complementary feeding to build resilience and the nutrition status of infants lt6 months (through EBF) and children 6-24 months. 
Mercy-USA will ensure that the health facilities will receive the essential medications and supplies (PPEs, diagnostics, case management), and nutrition sites will receive uninterrupted therapeutic/supplementary food supplies. 
Serious vaccine-preventable diseases are still prevalent in Somalia. Mercy-USA will thus support the provision of routine EPI activities. This will continue to increase immunization coverage among women and children lt5 years, IDPs, nomadic groups, and remote or difficult to access communities.
To ensure community engagement and improved health-seeking behaviors, health education and health consultations on common illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia will be provided at the community level by CHWs.
Additionally, Mercy-USA will screen everyone entering a facility for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and ensure all the preventive and control measures.