Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the media always report only negative events like hunger, starvation and human conflicts from this country, actually a lot of progress is being made. The problem however is that any improvement is instantly consumed by the fast growing population, and even things are improving the picture seems stationary.
Providing health care for 90 million people is quite a challenge. A lot have been done to improve health service. One particular project - which I personally think is a marvelous idea - is the extended health care program which has been launched. Young girls with completed 10’th grade are being employed and trained as extended health workers. After one year of theoretical teaching and practical training they will be assigned to a Kebele to provide basic health care to the population. The plan is to have two such extended health workers assigned to each and every Kebele all over the country.
The system with Kebeles is a heritage from the communist Derg regime, which organized the population all over the country in “revolutionary” groups of some thousands up to a maximum of 5 000 people. Today the Kebeles functions as local extensions of government service and administration. The leader is elected by the people registered in the Kebele.
This is a unique opportunity to reach each individual with basic health care and health education.
We have the great joy to provide practical training for several extended health workers in the hospital
Sr Ayantu demonstrating ultrasound scanning
….for two extended health workers
Extended health worker examining a patient
Arm watch and wooden stethoscope will do.
The health extension program has even a gender promoting aspect – intentionally or not. All the employed are young females. In this way many girls get a respectable profession with their own salary, and they are paid very well.
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on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 6:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the media always report only negative events like hunger, starvation and human conflicts from this country, actually a lot of progress is being made. The problem however is that any improvement is instantly consumed by the fast growing population, and even things are improving the picture seems stationary.
Providing health care for 90 million people is quite a challenge. A lot have been done to improve health service. One particular project - which I personally think is a marvelous idea - is the extended health care program which has been launched. Young girls with completed 10’th grade are being employed and trained as extended health workers. After one year of theoretical teaching and practical training they will be assigned to a Kebele to provide basic health care to the population. The plan is to have two such extended health workers assigned to each and every Kebele all over the country.
The system with Kebeles is a heritage from the communist Derg regime, which organized the population all over the country in “revolutionary” groups of some thousands up to a maximum of 5 000 people. Today the Kebeles functions as local extensions of government service and administration. The leader is elected by the people registered in the Kebele.
This is a unique opportunity to reach each individual with basic health care and health education.
We have the great joy to provide practical training for several extended health workers in the hospital
Sr Ayantu demonstrating ultrasound scanning
….for two extended health workers
Extended health worker examining a patient
Arm watch and wooden stethoscope will do.
The health extension program has even a gender promoting aspect – intentionally or not. All the employed are young females. In this way many girls get a respectable profession with their own salary, and they are paid very well.
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 6:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.