Medical Outreach
When people live too far from a health facility, how can they receive care?
Sub-Saharan Africa has a quarter of the world’s disease burden, but just 3% of the world’s health workers. It is well known that infectious diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV are some of Africa’s major health challenges. But now, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer and hypertension are on the rise. The World Health Organization even estimates that NCDs are likely to overtake infectious diseases by 2030. In 2015, NCDs were also included in the Sustainable Development Goals, under Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages.
With access to quality health services, infectious diseases can easily be prevented and treated and NCDs can be kept under control. This is why one of our top priorities is bringing health care closer to those who need it most.
We prevent new infections through education, immunization services and providing check-ups. We train skilled health workers to provide health services that are tailored to treat specific diseases like HIV and support health facilities that serve vulnerable communities with infrastructure improvements and supplies.
In Ethiopia, We’re Providing Immunizations to Young Children
We prevent new infections through education, immunization services and providing check-ups. We train skilled health workers to provide health services that are tailored to treat specific diseases like HIV and support health facilities that serve vulnerable communities with infrastructure improvements and supplies.
For NCDs, we train Community Health Workers to make household visits to check and record blood pressure or blood sugar levels, provide education on diet and exercise to maintain their NCDs, to remind them to take medication, and can refer patients to a doctor if needed. In communities that are miles away from a health facility, these Community Health Workers are essential.
Aside from regular check-ups and immunization services, Amref Health Africa also brings surgical outreach to marginalized communities. We have been providing surgical outreach since 1957 when our three founding surgeons: Dr. Archibald McIndoe, Dr. Michael Wood, and Dr. Thomas Rees, decided to bring essential medical and surgical services to rural and under-served hospitals across eastern Africa as the Flying Doctors. Today, using light aircraft, commercial flights, and road transport, we continue to provide both specialist surgical services and training for local health professionals to improve their surgical skills and patient care.
Advocate for Vaccines for All!
Currently, lower income countries are struggling to secure enough vaccines for their populations. Join us in demanding that the Biden Administration increase equity to the COVID-19 vaccine and donate all surplus vaccine doses to lower-income countries.
Help get the COVID-19 vaccines to communities in Africa.
