Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

Supporting Exemplar teaching health centres

Following earlier exploratory talks between our link members, Hwassa training college and the SNNPR Regional Health Bureau, our link agreed to support few of the local teaching health centres with material resources, focused training for all staff members of the HC and also to develop dialogue with the local community leaders in improving health care delivered to the local population. It is expected that developing these HC as exemplar institutions will not only improve health care for the population served by these HCs but also indirectly help other HCs to follow best examples and improve themselves.

The following video shows the presentation made at Yirgacheffee Health Centre and outlines the philosophy behind the Exemplar Health Centre Project.

In November 2007 our link donated large quantities of surgical and obstetric instruments and equipment, laboratory equipment and disposable items to the Yirgacheffe, Wondo-Genet, Alaba and Yirgalem HCs. In addition, the first three HCs were also provided with oxygen concentrators and computers pre-installed with text books and teaching materials on essential medical topics. (Initially it was planned that the Yirgalem HC centre will also be provided with Oxygen concentrator and computers but we came to know that this HC already have these items donated by another charity).The staff in the first three HCs were also trained on-site to use the medical equipment as well as the computers. A short skills workshop on the management of trauma and emergency surgical and obstetric problems was also conducted on-site. Visiting team was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the HC staff in this collaboration.

Local Woreda (council) members were present during these presentations and agreed to continue to work together with the HC staff and the link in improving health care provision in these HCs. The link hopes to strengthen these links through further visits in March 2008 and agree to a memorandum of responsibilities and expectations from the link, HC staff and the local community.

Community link between Abergavenny (Bryn a Cwm) and Yirgacheffee

Our link took active role in development of a community link between Abergavenny in Wales and Yirgacheffe in SNNPR, Ethiopia in 2007 as part of the UN pilot Gold star community project. Our health link has been working with the Yirgacheffe HC for the last eight years. A five member team from Abergavenny visited Yirgacheffe in November 2007. This visit was mainly with a view to meet up with the key persons in the community and identify with the local partners the areas of future collaboration. With the local council support the team had useful discussion with the schools, women’s group, churches and mosques, small business and farming groups for future areas of partnership.