A mother's decision to protect her children

At Xalanley Health Centre, about 15 kilometres from Dhusamareeb, Amina welcomes mothers and children seeking essential health services. As the nurse in charge, she has spent the past year supporting families who come to the facility, including those seeking vaccinations for themselves and their children.

For Amina, the importance of vaccination is both professional and personal. She is a mother of four, and all four of her children have been vaccinated. Her experience as a parent strengthens the message she shares with other mothers about protecting children from preventable diseases.

“I know how important vaccination is for children,” she says.

That understanding shapes the way Amina speaks with families. Some arrive with questions or limited access to health information. By listening to their concerns and explaining the benefits of vaccination, she helps mothers make informed decisions for themselves and their children.

One of those mothers is Maryan Abdi.

A first step towards vaccination

Maryan, 31, is a mother of four. She was displaced from Galo and now lives in Xalanley with her family. Her husband is a livestock herder, and the family comes from a pastoralist background.

Before visiting Xalanley Health Centre, neither Maryan nor her children had been vaccinated. After receiving information about vaccination, she learned more about its benefits and decided that she and her children should receive the service.

The conversation at the health centre helped Maryan make a decision she felt confident about. She was pleased that she and her children could receive vaccinations near the community where they now live.

Her experience shows why clear, respectful communication matters. Families need opportunities to ask questions, understand the benefits and make informed choices with support from health workers they trust.

At Xalanley Health Centre, Amina brings that combination of professional knowledge and personal experience to her work. As a mother, she understands the responsibility parents feel. As a nurse, she provides the information and services families need.

A health centre built by its community

The story of Xalanley Health Centre is also rooted in the community it serves. The facility was constructed by community members, creating a local place where families can seek health care closer to home.

For families such as Maryan’s, this local access matters. Displacement and a pastoralist way of life can make regular access to services more difficult. Having a functioning health centre within reach creates an opportunity for families who may previously have missed vaccination to learn about the service and receive appropriate support.

Every visit is a chance to build trust. A conversation with a health worker can address concerns and help a family decide what is right for their children. In Maryan’s case, information provided at the centre helped her understand vaccination and take an important step for herself and her four children.

For Amina, each family that walks through the doors represents both her community and the reason she continues this work. Her role is not simply to provide a service, but to help mothers feel informed, respected and supported.

With support from the Republic of Korea, UNICEF is supporting vaccination services so more children and families can access essential immunization services. Through health workers such as Amina and community facilities such as Xalanley Health Centre, that support is helping bring information and services closer to families.