Your voice matters in shaping a healthier world.
Founded by a group of dedicated young female medical practitioners, CHC emerged from a profound concern over the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. Our approach uniquely integrates medical expertise, cultural insights, and local knowledge to bring about meaningful change at both local and national levels, particularly in the North and North-Eastern regions.
Climate and Health Connect began in 2018 with a young female doctor, Dr. Hamdi Mohamed Farah, working in the Dadaab refugee camp. While serving both the refugee and host communities, Dr. Hamdi observed significant challenges faced by women and girls. She noticed widespread myths and misinformation within the community, often stemming from reliance on traditional healers or a lack of access to accurate health information.
Women and girls, however, found it easy to open up to Dr. Hamdi—sharing not only their health concerns but also their marital issues, feeling relieved just by being heard. In the Somali community, where mental health is highly stigmatized and seen as a sign of weakness, professional counseling centers were nonexistent. Issues of mental illness were often attributed to black magic and addressed through traditional remedies. This silence and avoidance perpetuated suffering and misunderstanding.
Motivated by these challenges, Dr. Hamdi shared her experiences with fellow female doctors. Together, they formed a small group, dedicating a few hours each week to provide accurate health information to women and girls. What began as a modest effort grew organically, eventually expanding to cover the entire county.
As the initiative grew, Dr. Hamdi and her colleagues began to notice the devastating impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat, which exacerbated health problems and disrupted the livelihoods of the communities they served.
Being natives of the region themselves, Dr. Hamdi and her team brought a sense of familiarity and belonging, fostering trust and making it easier to engage with the community. This connection, combined with their medical expertise, laid the foundation for Climate and Health Connect—an organization dedicated to addressing the interconnected challenges of health, climate change, and gender equity in marginalized communities.
Together, we envision a healthier and more sustainable world.
We are proud to work with a network of dedicated partners who share our mission of creating positive change in the world.
Some People Need Help And We Give It! Together, we can create a healthier and more sustainable world.
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