South Omo pastoralist health program, Ethiopia
AMREF is working with the Ethiopian government to develop a health program collaborating 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 theater is 250 miles 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.
AMREF’s program aims to tackle diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, severe malnutrition, and water-borne diseases, all of which are the major causes of ill health in these communities.
AMREF 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.
Main objectives of the project
- Reduce mortality rates from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis among 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
- Empower women to improve their 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
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