Over the last ten years, Ethiopia has implemented their Health Extension Worker (HEW) program building Health Posts with HEWs throughout the country. To date, there are some 38,000 HEWs; two at every post. This has amazing reach to communities whose individuals might otherwise have to walk for miles and miles just to have basic services for a sick child, contraception, or antenatal care. This being said, the Health Post does have limitations. The HEW cannot provide a high level of skilled care. For instance, women in Tigray are highly encouraged to take a “mobile ambulance” (i.e. stretcher) to the Health Center where they can have access to skilled health workers that are better prepared to manage complications during birth.
In Tigray, Ethiopia: Visiting a Health Post
Feb 20 2014
Upon the conclusion of the seventeen-year Ethiopian civil war, the region of Tigray, the northernmost province in Ethiopia, is the home to the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. Their late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who led the revolution and won is celebrated still across the country. Today marked the annual Tigray People’s Liberation Front Celebration and the town of Mekele took a holiday to celebrate in a public event.
Jenny Dyer, PhD
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has pulled together a congressional delegation trip to Ethopia, and they invited me to join them. In leading HTHH’s Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide, I was invited to meet the faith leaders here to learn their stories and the position on the progress of healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies here in Ethiopia.Bethesda O'Connell, East Tennessee State University
We visited a malnourished and abused child, named Cesar, who is doing much better. My hosts and I visited him in the hospital yesterday and he looked like a different child. He had been given a much needed hair cut and had gained about five pounds. He was watching cars and motorcycles out of his window and jabbering away in Q’eqchi’ about them. We did understand “beep, beep!” He is expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation center next week.Jenny Dyer, PhD
Of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), MDG5, or Improving maternal health, is critical for addressing other global health issues like child survival, extreme poverty and hunger. If Mom dies in childbirth or suffers severe complications, the entire family is in jeopardy. Kids may not be able to finish primary education in order to raise siblings. Mom may suffer from poor health and cannot maintain her job. Newborns lack a mother to nurture them in their first years of life.Bethesda O'Connell, East Tennessee State University
The comprehensive report that I have been creating of a baseline study has proven to be a challenge and a great learning experience. I have learned how to use SPSS software more fully and gained a better understanding of application of biostatistics and epidemiologic concepts I learned in the classroom. Having to actually use information always brings a new level of understanding. I have called upon colleagues within my network at the ETSU College of Public Health to help me along the way. After finishing up some literature review for recommendations, my report will be ready to submit to the organization by February 14.FGHL Blog: Beth O'Connell - Debunking Myths of a Cursed Child: Addressing Abuse and Malnutrition in Guatemala
Malnutrition
Feb 07 2014
Bethesda O'Connell, East Tennessee State University
Day 1, GuatemalaI spent my first night in Guatemala City with Christian Aponte, director of CAFNIMA, my host organization. He helped me review the report I have been working on of the household survey data. We have been fine tuning it to be the most helpful to the organization and people. From there, I took a five-hour bus ride to Cobán and a two-hour truck ride to the Ulpán Valley.
What is MDG4 (and Why Does It Matter)?
Feb 05 2014
Senator Bill Frist, MD and Jenny Dyer, PhD
Five years ago, Save the Children asked me to chair their Newborn and Child Survival Campaign. In 1990, over 12 million kids were dying every year; that is, over 33,000 children were dying every single day from preventable, treatable disease.Today, the statistics have changed. We have almost cut that number in half. The goal for Millennium Development Goal #4 to reduce child mortality by 2/3 is within our grasp. The numbers show that almost 6.6 million children die per year, or about 18,000 children per day. The good news is that we are making progress.
Kate Etue
Saturday night, December 14, Senator Bill Frist, MD, was honored to present Brad Paisley with the Harmony Award at the Nashville 29th annual Symphony Ball. This prestigious prize is given to someone who exemplifies musical excellence and serves the community by making a difference in people's lives.
Hope Through Healing Hands has had the privilege of working with Paisley on the Water=Hope Campaign, which provides clean water to communities in Haiti. Read more about the evening at TasteofCountry.com.
photo by Terry Wyatt, Getty Images
Good News for the Global Fund
Dec 17 2013
Kate Etue
In 2000, Senator William H. Frist, MD, was a founding co-chair with then Senator John Kerry of the first bi-partisan task force on HIV/AIDS, which led to the creation of the groundbreaking PEPFAR plan and ultimately paved the way for the Global Fund, which is dedicated to fighting AIDS, TB, and malaria worldwide. Just a few weeks ago in Washington, DC, a group of international leaders met, including the President of the United States and Bill Gates, to rally financial support for the fourth replenishment of the Global Fund. Sec. Kerry acknowledge the crucial leadership role that Senator Frist provided in the early days of the fight against HIV/AIDS.
J. Stephen Morrison and Katherine Bliss of the Global Health Policy Center wrote about this meeting and what it means for the global fund in "Refueling the Global Fund."