AMREF operates health programs in more than 30 African countries. We have mainly worked as partners with training institutions and local communities, to minimize our administrative footprint. To fill a pressing need, though, AMREF recently opened an office in Senegal as a hub for serving several West African countries. Our strategy in this region is to replicate our effective, scalable interventions that have proven successful in East and Southern Africa. Initially, the program will strengthen the quality and sustainability of health services for underserved rural and disadvantaged communities by focusing on the following four major areas.

Through our E-Learning Training Project, we are upgrading the skills and training of midwives and nurses in remote regions of Senegal. The primary aim is to improve women’s health in isolated regions. The project will not only enhance the capacity of nurse and midwife schools to continually upgrade curricula, track students, and implement effective E-Learning, but will also increase the number of highly skilled nurses and midwives, leading to better maternal and infant care.

AMREF’s TeleMedicine Project is providing medical consultations, diagnostic services as well as specialist medical and surgical services to health personnel working in remote hospitals. To avoid the risk of professional isolation and outdated practices, the project will improve knowledge transfer to rural doctors through the increased use of information and communication technology, such as mobile phones and internet.

The AMREF Outreach Program is improving the long-term ability of 12 remote hospitals to provide high quality general medical services and, more specifically, reconstructive surgery of cleft and lip palate, and treatment of fistula and of cataracts. The Program is training local surgeons, medical doctors, clinical officers, nurses, and laboratory workers as well as strengthening links between hospital-based and community-based health services.

In addition, our Senegal hub is working with two rural school districts, on a pilot basis, to establish and expand programs that enable families and communities to resolve their own health concerns -- that is, to prevent disease, and to better their health and quality of life.

AMREF is enthusiastic about its new Senegal office. Through this expansion into West Africa, we are pleased to bring our proven and sustainable community-based health strategies and training initiatives to more families across the continent.

Click here to learn more about our work across the rest of Africa 

As AMREF continues to assist communities in East Africa devastated by the drought, we want to share with you an update from one of our water projects. This success story demonstrates that, while droughts are inevitable, famine and disease can largely be prevented - through sustainable health development work such as AMREF’s.

The Ilpolosat Masai herding community in the Kajiado district of Kenya was hit by droughts in 2005 and 2007. Families, like George Olemusunku’s, lost up to 80% of their livestock, their primary source of income; malnutrition peaked; and water-borne diseases were rampant. Families relied on hand-outs for survival.

Time for Change

In 2007, the AMREF team surveyed the area. “By then it was unbelievably dry. There was no water available,” says Phillip Murkuku, the AMREF project assistant in charge of community mobilization and training in Kajiado. "When there is no water, diseases are at their highest, because hygiene and sanitation are at their lowest. Malnutrition also peaks as women and children (who usually have to drop out of school) spend a lot of time looking for water and food.

“We needed to diversify from just cattle rearing otherwise we would continue to suffer the same fate,” says the chairman of Kasaru borehole at Ilpolosat village, Kajiado, George Olemusunku, 45. “We regrouped as residents and identified water as one of our biggest problems. We had to walk more than 3 miles to fetch water from a dam. Since we did not have the expertise or funds, we decided to approach AMREF for help.”

Faced with this recurring problem, the community partnered with AMREF to drill a borehole. AMREF brought in the expertise and carried 75% of the costs, while the residents covered 25%, mostly in the form of labor and land. For the community, this project was the starting point for major transformation towards a healthier, better future.

AMREF provided lessons in hygiene and sanitation, borehole management and environmental protection to ensure that the changes were far-reaching and sustainable. “We train community committees on how to take care of their water resource. You need to make sure that they are able to maintain it, by taking care of their fuel expenses, maintenance and any breakdowns,” says Murkuku.

A New Beginning

Hear community member Phillipa Koin speak about her new way of life.

Vicky Hausman is a Partner in Dalberg's New York office. She leads the firm's Global Health practice and its work on the use of information and communications technology in development. Vicky has advised Fortune 500 companies and leading institutions in global health such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Foundation, GAVI Alliance, Open Society Institute, World Bank, and GBCHealth.

Vicky has worked across disease areas and health systems, including financing, supply chain, procurement, and human resources. She has designed innovative solutions, including a financing tool to increase access to medicines that secured a $20M guarantee from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Vicky was also recently commissioned by the World Bank to author the health chapter of its flagship report on mobile for development.

Prior to joining Dalberg, Vicky was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group and a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer. She holds a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a BA from Harvard. She serves on the board of the African Medical Research and Education Foundation. She currently serves on the Board of AMREF USA.

 2011 Holiday Gift List

Give the perfect gift this holiday season to your family, friends and colleagues - health to millions of Africans.

‪

Better health for all Africans
$6,000 can help cover the cost of training a Clinical Officer. This money can help cover the cost of training a Clinical Officer in South Sudan, a country with a critical shortage of doctors. Clinical Officers are trained by AMREF to carry out most of a doctor's duties - at a fraction of the cost or time of a doctor's training. Donate now
$1,500 can bring safe drinking water to a community. $1,500 can secure a permanent water supply for a small community to prevent devastating water-borne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, malaria and yellow fever. Safe drinking water is more crucial than ever in light of the recent East African draught. Donate now
$500 can equip two small health clinics. This money can outfit two small health clinics with desperately needed beds and medical kits to help mothers safely deliver their babies. Donate now
$250 can train a community midwife. Midwives are the single most important factor in lowering maternal death rates in sub-Saharan Africa. An AMREF-trained community midwife gives pre- and post-natal advice to mothers and knows how to treat common illnesses. During delivery, she is able to manage frequent complications and knows when to refer women to the hospital. Donate now
‪$100 can keep 50 people with HIV/AIDS healthy. $2 is the average cost of supporting one HIV positive patient with special nutrition supplements for a month. (ARV's are provided free by the government) The supplements help keep people healthy and avoid sickness. A simple cold or fever can become life-threatening to an HIV positive person. Donate now
$75 can protect 8 families from catching malaria. This money could cover the cost of buying and distributing mosquito nets to 8 families. In particular, it will be helping to protect mothers and children- the most vulnerable. Donate now
$50 can help stop 100,000 kids from going blind. $50 can provide vitamin A supplements, which prevents blindness, to 100,000 kids in the Kibera Slums of Kenya. Vitamin A is inexpensive when delivered in tablets that dissolve in the mouth. Kids view them as sweets- so they get taken. Blindness is prevalent in children from poor communities due to lack of a balanced diet. Donate now
$20 can purchase the supplies for two “mama kits”. Mama Kits are used by community midwives. They include surgical masks, gloves and basic supplies to ensure good prenatal care for mothers and a safe labor and delivery. Donate now

Make your gift securely online or over the phone at 212-768-2440.   

AMREF USA is consistently awarded high marks by charity watchdog groups for the efficient use of our financial support and the effectiveness of our work. 

Charity Navigator gives AMREF USA its highest, four-star rating for sound financial management. In addition, the Better Business Bureau approved us to use their Charity Seal assuring our donors that we meet the 20 rigorous standards of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

How we use our funds

For every $1 you give to AMREF USA ...

89˘ go directly to fund our life-saving programs in Africa 5˘ are re-invested in fundraising to help AMREF reach even more vulnerable African communities 6˘ are spent on governance, administration, and office support

Financial information

Click here to read our recent Annual Report form 990 and audited financial statements.

In this Field Call Dr. Ngatia discusses the urgent need, as well as challenges faced, to increase frontline health workers in Africa.  Combining evidenced-based learning from the field with practical solutions, Dr. Ngatia addresses the following topics and directly takes questions from callers. 

• The health related Millennium Development Goals  
• Recruitment and retention of health workers in Africa
• Technology and health workers: E-Learning and M-Learning 
• The role of the United States and other governments in training more health workers

Learn about both past progress, challenges faced by AMREF health worker training initiatives and hear about steps needed to increase the number of trained health workers across Africa.

Click here to listen to the field call.

With deep shock and sorrow, AMREF announces the death of Dr Alemayehu Seifu, AMREF Country Director for South Sudan.

Dr. Seifu, 46, was shot dead by unknown killers on the evening of Saturday, January 14, at the gate of his house in Malakia area, on the outskirts of the capital city, Juba. The killers made off with his car and other personal belongings. The government of South Sudan immediately launched investigations into the incident. The vehicle Dr Seifu was driving was found on the Yambio-Juba road on Sunday afternoon with one occupant, who was arrested by police.

Dr. Teguest Guerma, AMREF's Director General said “This is a very sad moment for the entire AMREF family and we stand in solidarity with Alemayehu's family and AMREF South Sudan staff during this very difficult moment,”  

Dr Guerma has assured AMREF staff in South Sudan that AMREF is making efforts to strengthen security measures for them and AMREF employees working in other countries.

Dr Seifu was appointed AMREF Country Director in South Sudan in January 2011, after serving as Deputy Country Director in Ethiopia, a position he held since September 2007.

Prior to joining AMREF, Dr Seifu, a medical doctor who held a Masters Degree in Public Health, worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as regional surveillance coordinator in Ethiopia Country Office, CARE International and Amhara Regional Health Bureau, Ethiopia.

He is survived by a widow, Mrs Amsalework Tesfaye Seifu, a son Samuel Alemayehu, 15, and a daughter Betlehame Alemayehu, 12.

Messages of condolence have been pouring in from all over the world from colleagues and friends who knew and worked with Dr Seifu. In South Sudan the Ministers of Health both at State and Republic level visited AMREF staff and conveyed their condolences. Other messages of condolence were received from the South Sudanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information.

Dr Seifu’s body was flown to Ethiopia on Sunday evening for burial on Monday at his home 100km from Addis Ababa City. AMREF was represented at the burial on Monday by Ms Mette Kjaer, Head of Programme Management, AMREF South Sudan M&E Officer Mr Arizi Primo and staff of AMREF Ethiopia led by Country Director Dr Joao Soares.

AMREF has assigned Dr Joseph Lipua, South Sudan Programme Manager, to run the office as arrangements are made for appointing an acting Country Director. Mr Steve Gikunda from AMREF headquarters has been sent to Juba for support and assistance. Gikunda worked in South Sudan for two years (2007-2008) as programme coordinator and is well versed with AMREF operations in the country.

 “This is a very difficult time for us all in AMREF and I thank everybody for the solidarity you have shown,” said Dr Guerma.

Please contact Betsy Kovacs, Director of Communications at (212) 768-2440 or kovacs@amrefusa.org  if there are any questions about this news. 

September 22nd, 2011
Update on Fuel Explosion in Kenya

September 18th, 2011
AMREF's Commitment to Better Maternal Health in Africa

September 13th, 2011
AMREF Aids Victims of Fuel Explosion in Kenyan Slum

August 16th, 2011
AMREF hosts U.S. Hill Staffers on visit to Kenya

August 15th, 2011
Drought Update from Turkana, Kenya by Dr. Lennie Bazira, Director of AMREF Kenya

July 29th, 2011
Wajir - Bearing the Brunt of the Drought in Northern Kenya

July 25th, 2011
Update on AMREF's response to the drought and resulting famine

July 19th, 2011
AMREF issues statement about the current crisis in the Horn of Africa.

July 13th, 2011
AMREF Surgeon Elected as President of PAACLIP

July 5th, 2011
A New Dawn for the people of the Republic of South Sudan and the Birth of Africa's Newest Nation.

July 4th, 2011
Learn the facts and figures about health in South Sudan and AMREF's work in Africa's newest nation.

June 9th, 2011
World leaders launch plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015. 

May 17th, 2011
Kenyan sets new record running for AMREF's maternal health campaign

May 6th, 2011
AMREF urges caution over new AIDS vaccine trials

April 25th, 2011
Celebrating World Malaria Day with an eye on progress and impact

April 13th, 2011
AMREF announces partnership with Open University to train 250,000 health workers

March 8th, 2011
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. 

February 23rd, 2011
Maternal Death - A lethal enemy waiting to snatch its next victim. 

February 17th, 2011
Australian envoy visits AMREF Headquarters. 

February 15th, 2011
Health in Southern Sudan: Your Questions Answered.

January 21st, 2011
AMREF will play a key role in the Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health which starts January 25th, in Bangkok, Thailand.

January 18th, 2011
In advance of the Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health Sarah Boseley of the Guardian has written this article, “The health worker shortage is a truly global crisis”.

January 09th, 2011
Southern Sudan heads to the polls to vote in a referendum on whether or not to separate from the North. Read about AMREF's long history working in Southern Sudan.

January 01st, 2010
Please support AMREF USA by participating in Movie For a Cause. If you purchase a copy of the film Poliwood you will receive a significant discount and AMREF gets a portion of the proceeds.
 

December 15th, 2010
UNTV’s Andrew Martin reports on how a computer, scanner and digital camera transforms the lives of patients at a local clinic in Kenya.

December 12th, 2010
AMREF’s Dr. Peter Ngatia Receives Award (the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear) from Kenyan head of state, President Mwai Kibaki.

December 1st, 2010
AMREF's Director General interviewed about HIV issues in Africa.

December 1st, 2010
Africa.com blogs about some of AMREF's activities increasing awarness around HIV and AIDS in Africa.
 

December 1st, 2010
World AIDS Day 2010: Universal Access and Human Rights.
 

November 12th, 2010
AMREF Presents papers and participates in multiple elearning and mhealth summits in early November. 

November 7th, 2010
Two AMREF supporters run the NYC Marathon and raise about $13,000 for AMREF's health development programs in Africa. 

November 2nd, 2010
Today the Guardian's involvement in our Katine project officially comes to a close. Please click here to read the multitude of coverage this project is receiving. 

October 14th, 2010
AMREF USA receives coveted 4 star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management - for the SIXTH year in a row! 

October 11th, 2010
AMREF part of a team of top health players meeting in Nairobi for key African meeting on Human Resources for Health sector.
 

September 20th, 2010
AMREF cited by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) in his remarks about the 'water for the poor' bill as it passed the Senate 

August 2nd, 2010
WHO representative visits AMREF headquarters


July 22nd, 2010
Showcasing AMREF at the Vienna AIDS conference


July 22nd, 2010
Uganda's Minister of Health commends AMREF's second response team to the Kampala bombings


July 20th, 2010
Don't stop now, donors and governments urged


July 20th, 2010
We risk reversing all the gains made in HIV interventions, warns AMREF


July 19th, 2010
AMREF's message to leaders at the African Union Summit


July 16th, 2010
AMREF steps in to provide emergency support to Uganda bombing victims

July 9th, 2010
AMREF scoops two international awards for its work in health development 

June 28th, 2010
AMREF cautiously welcomes new G8 funding for maternal and child health in Africa 

June 25th, 2010
AMREF stands up for African mothers as G8 and G20 leaders arrive in Canada 

June 25th, 2010
A way forward to achieving the health Millennium Development Goals in Africa - G8 2010

June 4th, 2010
AMREF Photos Win Top Honours at CNN Awards

April 23rd, 2010
AMREF, UCLA and Johnson & Johnson launch eLearning course for National AIDS Control Council

For every woman who dies, another 20 to 30 are left with debilitating diseases. Most of these deaths and disabilities could easily be prevented if women had access to basic medical care. Health workers, in particular, are desperately needed.

We have been working with African communities for more than 50 years, creating lasting health changes. In our work, we champion women, who are at the heart of their families’ and communities’ health, and children because we believe that by focusing on these two vulnerable groups, we can improve the lives and health of families and communities.

AMREF is pleased to announce that we will expand our maternal and child health program in 20 countries in Africa to reach an additional 500,000 women of reproductive age and 1.5 million children.

Over the next 5 years, we will train 3,000 new midwives and retrain 5,000 midwives to upgrade their skills in saving the lives of mothers and newborns. We will also train up to 10,000 community health workers to help provide care to mothers and children at home, and link effectively with health facilities when needed. This new commitment also includes considerable expansion of service delivery to increase the access of disadvantaged communities to medical care.

In partnership with our donors and sponsors, our objective is to make pregnancy and childbirth safer in Africa and to help prevent the needless deaths of women and children.

>> Read more about our work with women 

Please help us achieve many more such successes.
Click here now to renew your support.

For more than 50 years, training health workers has been at the heart of AMREF's work. 

We believe that appropriately trained and supported health workers are key to improving the health and lives of communities in Africa.

The papers and stories from the field below demonstrate the critical difference health workers make in the lives of Africans every day.

Please visit our projects page to see more about how, and where we are training health workers. http://www.amrefusa.org/what-we-do/train-health-workers-/ 

In addition to training health workers, we are collaborating with other organizations to advocate for solutions to address the health worker crisis in Africa and other parts of the world.  As part of our efforts, we are members of several alliances and coalitions.

To learn more about why health workers in particular are so critical to health in Africa, please read the WHO position on achieving the health related Millenium Development Goals.

“Only 5 of the 49 countries categorized as low-income economies by the World Bank meet the minimum threshold of 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population that was established by WHO as necessary to deliver essential maternal and child health services.

Achieving the health-related MDGs. It takes a workforce! 

Yes, I'd like to support better health for Africans.

When you donate to AMREF, you make a difference in the lives of women, men, and children in Africa. 

Below you'll find some examples of the impact your donation can have.

On April 14, 2011 AMREF held its 2nd Annual Luncheon "Healthy Girls and Women = Health Africa" at the Plaza in New York City, NY. The luncheon is dedicated to improving the health of girls and women in Africa. Hear from AMREF Director General Dr. Teguest Guerma, and all of the award recipients: Abigail Disney, Eve Ensler, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Johnson & Johnson

A Mother's story - Kechene slum, Ethiopia

Jane Wathome and the Management Development Institute 

Jane Wathome is an alumni of the Johnson & Johnson, UCLA and AMREF Management Development Institute (MDI). A program that aims to enhance the leadership and management skills of health care professionals working in organizations devoted to the care, treatment and support of people and families living with HIV in Africa. Hear from Jane about why the MDI program is so necessary and how it helped shape her organization into what it is today.

Intro to AMREF's work to bring better health to Africa

In 1957 three men came up with an idea that would revolutionize health care in Africa: the African Medical and Research Foundation. From its origin as a Flying Doctors service, AMREF has evolved into Africa's largest health organization.

AMREF - helping AIDS orphans to have a future

In Africa 13 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, hear from one of them. This young girl was given a grant by AMREF and has started an income generating project to support herself and her younger siblings who are going to a school supported by AMREF. In AMREF's Africa AIDS orphans have a future. 

An AMREF-trained health worker's story 

See the work done by Almaz Nagade, a health extension worker in Doiso, Ethiopia. She was trained by AMREF, and is now able to provide health education and basic, but vital pre- and post-natal care to her village of 6,700 people. It's a tough assignment in this hot and arid region. But Almaz is happy to travel miles of rugged terrain daily to visit the women in her community, knowing that they need her help to ensure safe deliveries and healthy newborns.  

Long-term improvements in health will not be achieved through health projects alone. A key component of AMREF’s strategy to bring better health to Africa, is to influence those in power so that health policies, practices, and financing better serve the needs of the poor.

AMREF’s advocacy priorities include:

• Closing the health worker gap in Africa
  AMREF considers the health worker shortage, particularly in rural areas, one of the major challenges facing effective health care in Africa. Health Systems Strengthening calls attention to the need for capacity building at all levels in order to close the gap of more than 1 million health workers needed for Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
  
• Meeting the health-related Millenium Development Goals
  The UN’s 2010 report finds that, globally, we are not on track to meet Millenium Development Goals 4 and 5 that focus on maternal and child health. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region that has demonstrated the least amount of progress. In 2008, the region accounted for half of the 8.8 million deaths worldwide of children under five; and in 2005 more than half of maternal deaths worldwide occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Our policy work aims to accelerate the rate of meeting the Millenium Development Goals in this area of critical need.

Download AMREF’s advocacy report on the health worker crisis.

AMREF has learned a great deal from its 50+ years of experience working in and with some of the poorest and most marginalized communities. Our advocacy work is imbued with lessons learned from AMREF’s African public health experts  who directly serve these communities. Their first-hand experience reveals what practices create effective and sustainable care models; this evidence-based knowledge is, in turn, used to inform, influence, and advocate for change.

AMREF USA’s advocacy looks to American internal policy and decision-makers to give voice to the communities we serve in Africa. In leveraging policy as a vehicle for improving health for Africans, our outreach focuses on US Government and its affiliates including CDC, USAID, NIH, think tanks, Senators, and Congresspeople.

AMREF advocacy activities include:

• AMREF USA builds and participates in coalitions of organizations dedicated to achieving these shared goals. Visit Our Partners to see a list of our allies.
• AMREF meets with policy and decision-makers to provide expert recommendations. We hold briefings for legislators, make presentations, and participate in global health panel discussions and conferences.
• AMREEF staff experts provide expert testimony and recommendations for best practices and policies to improve health in Africa.
• AMREF ensures there is a research component to all of our projects. In this way, we contribute to the field of African health development and make sure our solutions are sustainable and appropriate for Africa’s specific health challenges.

Click here for some examples of our success stories that have been replicated and scaled-up across the continent and in other parts of the world.

AMREF's position on abortion

AMREF's position on Community Health Workers

AMREF's position on female genital mutilation

AMREF's position on task shifting

AMREF's position on Traditional Birth Attendants 

The Uganda Medical Laboratory Technology Association (UMLTA) has selected AMREF in Uganda as the first winner of the Khadil Award of excellence in Medical Laboratory Service. This is in recognition of the enormous contribution the organization has made in promoting excellence in Medical Laboratory Service delivery in Uganda.

The award was given during the 29th scientific conference of UMLTA which took place on 24th November 2011 at the Colline Hotel – Mukono, Central Uganda. This year’s theme for the conference focused on maternal health which is in line with AMREF’s focus for the next three years as articulated in the AMREF business plan 2011-2014.

The possible beneficiaries of Khadil Award are organizations or individuals working to promote Medical Laboratory Services delivery and that have contributed tremendously to the development of Medical Laboratory Services in Uganda.

The award was presented to the AMREF in Uganda Country Director, Joshua Kyallo by Commissioner of quality assurance Ministry of Health Dr. Mwebaze on behalf of the Minister of Health.

Click here to read more about our Laboratory program

>> Please donate to support the Doctors of South Sudan 

>> Read more about our work with Clinical Officers

Help us to train more health workers. Donate Now.

AMREF Flying Doctors is extremely proud to be the winner of this year’s prestigious Air Ambulance Provider of the Year Award.
 
The ITIJ (International Travel Insurance Journal) yearly awards are voted for by over 50,000 readers of ITIJ and other stakeholders within the international industry, representing the global travel/ medical insurance industry, air ambulance providers, underwriters to assistance companies and cost containment entities.
 
The companies with the most votes go through to be award finalists and each one submits a presentation to an independent judging panel, which decides on the ultimate winner based on achievements and outstanding performances throughout the year, as well as overall development, expansion and future vision. Each finalist also has to produce and submit a 45 second film clip that is presented at the price giving ceremony.
 
The award was announced and presented at the Gala Dinner during the International Travel Insurance Conference in Lisbon, Portugal on 3rd of November 2011 and received on behalf of AMREF Flying Doctors by CEO & Medical Director Dr.Bettina Vadera and COO Sean Culligan.
 
In front of 600 delegates, representing 54 countries worldwide, the award to AMREF Flying Doctors was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience who appreciate the professionalism and respect the work carried out by AMREF Flying Doctors both regionally and internationally.
 
 
Click here to learn more about the Flying Doctors, and our outreach and evacuation services. 

 

 Updated technology already helping to upgrade clinical skills for over 12,000 nurses in Kenya

More than 85% of Kenya’s 20,000 nurses are trained at certificate level but do not have registered nurses’ diplomas.  They are left inadequately qualified to treat major diseases, such as HIV, TB, and malaria.

Classroom-based training for the registered nurses’ diploma has been very limited, only 100 of the 20,000 nurses can qualify each year. This has left Kenya with just one registered nurse per 27,000 people.

To speed the process, AMREF and the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) have shifted the emphasis from traditional classroom based teaching to ‘paper-based’ distance learning and further to ‘eLearning’.

In partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, Accenture (a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company), the Kenya Medical Training Colleges, and several private and faith-based nursing schools, AMREF and NCK are:

• Using E-learning to register nearly 20,000 Kenyan nurses by 2011
• Training AMREF and NCK staff to run and monitor the E-learning program
• Advocating for the E-learning program to be replicated in other African countries

Main objectives of the project

AMREF, NCK, and Accenture have developed four computer-based training modules to be delivered through more than 100 E-learning centers – reaching nurses in the most remote areas of Kenya. Twenty-five nursing schools are also taking part in the program. To date, more than 12,000 nurses have enrolled in the program and use both print and eLearning modules.

Unlike traditional training, the E-learning program is flexible and enables students to learn anytime and anywhere, without the need to stop working as they upgrade their skills.

AMREF staff and local partners are fully trained to manage and further expand the program regionally. AMREF will use the program as a model for other African countries struggling with critical nursing shortages.

According to Dr. Peter Ngatia, Director of Capacity Building for AMREF, "This program is not only going to drastically improve the health care of Kenya, it is also going to be emulated by other countries – and the impact on Africa's health system will be enormous."

The Registrar of the Nursing Council of Kenya states, “We are proud of the E-learning program as nurse managers are reporting an improvement in the quality of nursing care. With improved nursing care, we are confident of our contribution in steering our country towards meeting the health related Millennium development goals.”

Key achievements

• Accenture has fully equipped nurses with the IT and management skills needed to expand and run the program long-term.
• The education process has been revolutionized by harnessing computer-based learning to boost Kenya's medical training capacity.
• A Virtual Nursing School has been set up at AMREF to test and document the implementation of an eLearning solution in strengthening the human resources for health in a low-income, resource constrained environment.

<< eLearning program expands to Uganda

<< Back to Where we work

<< Back to Our Work in Kenya

Mother's Day 2011 gift list

What better way to show your mother, your wife, or someone else close to you how special she is than by making a gift in her honor - to help AMREF save women’s lives in Africa.

‪

Better health for mothers and families
$1,500 can secure a safe water supply for a community. A clean water supply reduces diarrhea-related deaths of infants by 25%. Clean water also helps prevent the spread of cholera, typhoid, malaria, yellow fever and other water-related diseases. Donate now
‪$250 can help train a community midwife. AMREF trains community midwives how to recognize and treat common illnesses, when to refer women to the hospital during complicated births, and the importance of referring all HIV-positive mothers to hospitals. An AMREF-trained midwife saves the lives of women and their newborns. Donate now
$100 can help prevent malaria. AMREF provides insecticide treated mosquito nets to protect mothers and children from malaria. By donating $100, you can protect 10 families. Donate now
$60 can supply a midwife with a bicycle. Community midwives are usually trained volunteers who often work in remote, very rural settings. By donating $60 you can help a midwife to travel further and save more mothers. Donate now
$20 can purchase the supplies for two “mama kits”. Mama kits are used by community midwives. They include surgical masks, gloves and basic supplies to ensure good prenatal care for mothers and a safe labor and delivery. Donate now

Make your gift securely online or over the phone at 212-768-2440.   

April 14th, 2011 - HEALTHYGIRLSANDWOMEN=HEALTHYAFRICA - Read about the event and view photos here

January 12th, 2011 - AMREF event in San Francisco with Dr. Dean & Anne Ornish Read about the event and view photos here

November 9th, 2010 - AMREF event in New York City with Dr. Peter Ngatia Read about the event and view photos here

April 14th, 2010 - HEALTHYGIRLSANDWOMEN=HEALTHYAFRICA - Read about the event and view photos here

To read about our luncheon, please click here