AMREF is working with the Ethiopian government to develop a health programme with nomadic communities in the Selemago and Bena districts of South Omo.
The region’s only hospital serves a population of nearly half a million people and the nearest operating theatre is 400km away. The region also faces a severe shortage of health workers. Most people do not have access to transport and nomadic communities in particular find it difficult to seek out health care.
Aims
AMREF’s programme aims to tackle the major causes of ill health in these communities such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, severe malnutrition and water-related disease. It will do this by adapting health care in South Omo to meet the particular needs of nomadic communities, particularly through the training of health workers within the community.
The main objectives of the programme
- Reduce mortality rates from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis amongst nomadic communities
- Train health workers who can adapt their services to a migratory lifestyle
- Improve access to clean and reliable water sources
- Increase use of mosquito nets among nomadic communities
- Improve women’s access to an improved health, social and economic status
- Improve reproductive health services, such as emergency obstetric care
- Examine the possibility of using traditional healing techniques alongside modern treatment methods
<< Back to Our Work in Ethiopia
<< Back to What We Do