Location: Kebri Dehar, Korahe, Somali regional state, Ethiopia

Situation:

The UN ranks Ethiopia among the lowest in the world in terms of human development. The conflict with Eritrea and the use of troops in Somalia have aggravated the economic situation, which was already very poor. A large proportion of the population depends on food aid and the shortage of health workers makes access to healthcare even more difficult. Doctors of the World UK's (DoW UK) project aims to strengthen the health system.

Activities:

To improve the healthcare provided in Kebri Dehar hospital and 19 health posts, the programme provides logistics support (refurbishing health facilities, providing medicines, improving hospital and health district management). The project aims to strengthen the health system, particularly through hygiene promotion activities, provision of obstetric and surgical services, vaccination, nutritional screening, setting up an emergency alert system and preparing for epidemics. A mobile clinic also provided services.

Outlook:

This third phase is ending in June 2009. We will review our project methodology according to the security conditions (an armed conflict between the government and rebel groups is ongoing in the region). There has been a marked reduction in access for humanitarian organisations to this area which has already been badly affected by malnutrition, poor access to healthcare and human rights violations.