Ensure Healthcare for 40,000+ Displaced Darfurians

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08-17-2007 - Progress Report August 2007: Health Clinics in North Darfur

Progress Report August 2007: Health Clinics in North Darfur

By Elizabeth Ross - Africa Program Officer, August 30, 2007 04:15 PM

Support from Global Giving donors has allowed RI to expand the services of the Zam Zam Camp clinic, which serves more than 50,000 displaced people, and provide training and supplies to 7 village-run health facilities. Expanding access and care has truly benefited the people of North Darfur. The number of pregnant women visiting RI safe motherhood units for prenatal checkups has steadily increased by 4% from August 2006 to June 2007. This marks a remarkable outreach achievement for community health workers who have been conducting awareness-raising programs for tribal and religious leaders. The RI midwives are also responsible for increased prenatal care, as they have been conducting activities during household visits to promote the importance of 3 prenatal visits for good mother-baby health.

As a result of overwhelming public support, RI’s field team has been able to provide 65,000 consultations in the past 6 months through the Zam Zam clinic and the 7others. Children under 5 years of age accounted for approximately 42% of all consultations. Children in Darfur suffer illness and even death as a result of severe diarrhea caused by poor water and sanitation and hygiene. Due to hygiene promotion activities provided by RI clinics, including education of mothers on the treatment of diarrhea, cases of severe dehydration due to diarrhea have decreased by 2% from August 2006 to June 2007 in RI clinics. Overall, the 8 clinics have reached. 5,800 schoolchildren, 50 school teachers, and more than 1,500 women with lifesaving outreach.

Community education campaigns have also focused on raising awareness about prevention of HIV/AIDS. From August 2006 to June 2007, RI’s health team conducted education activities for 120 community and tribal leaders, community health workers, and youth on HIV/AIDS prevention. These representative leaders were empowered to deliver key HIV/AIDS messages to their villages.