REST stands to create healthy generation in Tigray

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REST stands to create healthy generation in Tigray

Tigrai Online - June 11, 2013

REST-Shire MCH in enhancing mother and child health services

REST started health work activities in Tahtay Koraro and Endasilase districts by establishing MCH-H institution at the heart of Shire town. This unique health institution in the region was established in 1994 by REST in partnership with Germany based organization called kinder unserer Walt (KUW). The main reason to start up is to minimize the acute mortality and maternity rates and then achieve holistic health care services approach. In its foundation the health institution was designed to serve for 123,767 people living in the two aforementioned districts. But, due to its different attractive health service actions, quality of facilities, full free services, geographical importance, latest equipment, social acceptance and other interrelated services people from surrounding districts like Medebay Zana, Asgede Tsimbla, Laelay Adiabo and others became beneficiaries from MCH clinical service. Pregnant mothers, infants and children below five ages daily come to MCH shire from all round directions crossing a number of kilo meters.

In Minimum calculation, 295 mothers and children are visited every twenty four hours.

MCH clinic in Shire, Tigrai extablished by REST

This unique health institution in the region was established in 1994 by REST in partnership with Germany based organization called kinder unserer Walt (KUW).

Why MCH is preferable

In an interview with mothers, many of them approved that the service which has been getting at MCH is better off. In an integrated and comprehensive ways of health services, the MCH strides to deliver safe motherhood and child services. To continue its health service in a sustain manner, the institution is practical in place in the following ways.

Children under five age’s service like identifying age level, card registration, dispensary, EPI (expanding program immunization), OTP (oral triptych program) are the focal services which have given higher emphasis to be facilitated as much as possible.

Antenatal care, delivery, postnatal, family planning and PMTCT (prevention mother to child transmission) are also fundamental services. To rearing healthy child it is advisable to give HIV/ AIDS test before delivery. Thus, MCH Shire is 24 hours in work to give delivery service.

Overviews of Shire MHC delivery ward section

Antenatal care, delivery, postnatal, family planning and PMTCT (prevention mother to child transmission) are also fundamental services.

Coinciding with the government policy and strategy of family planning, REST as health implementing organization accomplished awesome health service in areas of family planning as well.

REST health care intervention in T/Koraro district

According to a source from the health office of Tahtay Koraro district, the REST played a great role in creating healthy generation. To facilitate its prominent services in a nearby means it expands the service to all 14 sub-districts. These sub-districts are divided into 52 villages (hamlets). More than 79,805 people lives in this district and has 18, 137 households. To serve this population and to create healthy society in rural and semi rural areas of the district, REST in partner with A Glimmer of Hope – Charity: Water started an intervention on Community Lead Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) health care activities nearly two years ago. Using the 465 government operated Women Development Armies (WDA) as facilitators and introducing a system of one to five network linkages, REST able to smooth the grass root health problems and as a result changed lives of many individuals.

According to Amberbir Alemu, health extension program coordinator of Tahtay Koraro district, REST MCH service touches all corners of CLTSH works especially in areas which have an access of potable water supply. “After the involvement of REST MCH first we nominated 465 women development armies to create bonding in the ground with other five females and then give service at every house in a chain form. On the other hand, we established 8 model schools in every village. Later the number increased to 36 model schools. Using this influential health service action and financial as well as technical assistance from the REST our last year plan implementation rate reached 100%. So that REST’s aid on CLTSH side was/is core to bring this achievement” quoted Amberbir.

Augment quality not quantity

Health promotion and disease prevention is another means of health care service introduced in the district. Here, the MCH is fully engaged to serve the community and then improve the low health coverage of the district. 18 years ago the health promotion and disease prevention status of this district was below 25%. The worst of all was delivery problem which accounted only 5%. Child mortality rate was also too high. Researching all these challenged health situation, REST MCH begun to put holistic health intervention in 1995.

G/wahid Yohans, health promotion and disease prevention coordinator of Tahtay Koraro district, explained that “to prevent disease and promote health care access in every village at every house we tried to produce model Women Development Army (WDA) at every village. In consulting with the MCH we bring the WDA members and give them training for 45 days, and send them back to the village to train more people. After we passed many up and down atmospheres, vaccinations are given in a village level, inside the community.

Previously, our principal was quantity, but now our chief mission is quality of health provision not quantity.”

L10k and REST MCH service

Starting from 2010 by the joint works of L10k and MCH Shire, the following main activities are under way. Family oriented communication service, population oriented communication service, individual oriented clinical service and attitudinal change towards family planning. For that reason vaccination rate reached 90% and family planning increased to 70%. In general capacity building, supplies of logistics, man power empowerment are critical to do more in health of mother and children. For families who achieved all health extension package services a graduation certificate is prepared to recognized.

Families who achieved all health extension package services are given a graduation certificate

For families who achieved all health extension package services a graduation certificate is prepared to recognized.

Creating model villages in area of CLTSH

Adikokob, situated around 30km towards north of Shire is become a model village in CLTSH activities. Out of the 784 total households, 769 have dry latrine, liquid and dry waste disposal pit and develop something positive awareness in components of CLTSH. In our random visit we have observed clean compound, pure utensils, smile and hopeful faces from residents.

Both Rahel Abreha and Ato Tesfay Berhe are from this village. There is a wide age gap between them, 72 years long. She is 10 years old but he is 82 years old. Keeping these extreme age differences, they have common understanding in advantages and disadvantages of hygiene and sanitation. Both of them oppose open defecations, promote hand washing after toilet and accept having waste disposal pit. “If we use free defecation, diarrhea, polio, and other intestinal parasites which easily preventable diseases will spread out in case of butterflies and laid into our food. Lack of personal and environment hygiene will bring disastrous contaminations to life” says Rahel and Ato Tesfay in common words

After latrine Rahel washes her hand and Ato Tesfay points out the sewerage disposal pit

Both Rahel Abreha and Ato Tesfay Berhe are from this village. There is a wide age gap between them, 72 years long. She is 10 years old but he is 82 years old.

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