During the last decade, national and international efforts to combat malaria have been stepped up through innovative funding that has enabled the development of new tools and improved access to malaria prevention and control measures. Since 2000, the incidence of malaria globally has reduced by 17 per cent, and malaria mortality rates have fallen by 26 per cent. These rates are less than the internationally agreed targets of 50 per cent reduction by 2010 but nonetheless represent a major achievement.
As the world marks the International Women’s Day 2012, AMREF would like to pay tribute to women all over the world, and in particular to African mothers. Over the years, women have made great progress in many fields, including business, academia, research, sports and political leadership. There are more girls in school and more women in salaried employment.
AMREF has announced, with deep shock and sorrow, the death of Dr Alemayehu Seifu, AMREF Country Director for South Sudan.
Dr Alemayehu, 46, was shot dead by unknown assassins on the evening of Saturday, January 14, at the gate of his house in Malakia area, on the outskirts of the capital city, Juba. The killers made off with his car and other personal belongings. The government of South Sudan immediately launched investigations into the incident. The vehicle Dr Seifu was driving was found on the Yambio-Juba road on Sunday afternoon with one occupant, who was arrested by police.
Pregnancy continues to carry with it a high risk of death for both mother and child in some parts of the world and especially in the developing world.
Sub-Saharan Africa is now the epicentre of maternal mortality in the world. Current trends indicate that despite global, regional and national policies to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) being in place, countries like Kenya are yet to attain their targets particularly for MDGs 4 and 5 to decrease child and maternal mortality.
AMREF continues to collaborate with development partners, corporates and the wider AMREF family (nongovernmental organisations and friends of AMREF) in fundraising both within and outside Kenya, in a bid to combat the drought situation in the country.
With funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and in collaboration with the Government of Uganda, the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), and other Implementing Partners as well as local stakeholders, the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) is implementing a five year project designed to support the scale-up of comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention services in Uganda from September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2015 in 8 districts with an average HIV prevalence of 8.2 %.
Change is as good as rest, so the saying goes. Nothing says this better than the Maasai community in Loitoktok. Since time immemorial, they have led nomadic lifestyles, depending largely on livestock for their livelihood. However, the past three years have been characterised by hardship, as the region has not received proper rainfall. Hard hit by the drought currently facing the country, the communities in this area have lost large numbers of livestock.
In the heart of the Kibera informal settlement, a one roomed window-less house is home to four adults and three children. Three of the adults recently migrated from Makueni district in the eastern part of Kenya to their relatives’ house in Kibera to escape the hard and biting drought that saw them endure many long days without meals. However, life in the city is just as bleak as in the rural areas, with thousands just like them scrambling unsuccessfully for jobs in Nairobi’s industrial area.
AMREF has officially launched its drought response in Kenya with a medical camp in Turkana District, one of the regions worst affected by the drought.
Hundreds of people, men and women, young and old, their faces and bodies telling the story of hardship and hunger, turned up at the Loitanik Primary School in Kaikor division, eager for medical attention – and food.
Nairobi’s Dagoretti District is home to numerous immigrants from various parts of Kenya who settle here in search of employment and livelihood opportunities. Most of them live in low-income informal settlements and rely on casual labour and small-scale businesses to make a living.
Agnes Ndanu hails from Makueni District in eastern Kenya and was living in Nairobi’s Kibera slum until she and her family were kicked out of their house during the post-election violence that rocked Kenya in 2007/2008.
This week, AMREF joined hands with Humedica and World Concern to deliver five tonnes of food supplements and medical supplies to Daadab in northern Kenya, which is host to half a million refugees, many of whom have moved here as a result of the ongoing drought. Humedica is an international emergency aid organistion based in Germany, while World Concern is an international relief agency working in Africa, Asia and the Americas. AMREF, Humedica and World Concern are all recipients of funding raised through Sternstunden’s Radio Day campaign for drought relief work in the Horn of Africa.
Wajir Background
For as far as the eye can see, the area surrounding Wajir town is covered in a carpet of loose red soil, dotted with a stubble of hardy thorn trees and leafless bushes. July is the ‘winter’ season in this arid district of northern Kenya, and while the mornings are relatively cool, the temperature rises quickly and by mid-afternoon, it is 36 degrees centigrade and rising.
While the Kenya Coast, with its sandy beaches and welcoming tourist resorts, is often perceived from the outside as a wealthy part of the country, those who live there know very well that beneath and beyond the illusory greenness of its expanses of palm fronds, life is harsh.
Each location on the Coast has its peculiarities, but these days, all share raw data which is brutal in its implications.
In response to the severe drought that is being experienced in the Horn Africa, AMREF has received over 1.2 million euro in the past week to meet immediate needs of the affected communities in the areas where we work. The money has been raised by AMREF in Germany, Austria and Italy. An impact assessment of AMREF programme areas in Kenya shows that activities have been disrupted as communities’ priorities shift towards the search for water and food.
After two decades of civil war, a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. Southern Sudan is expected to become an independent country on July 9, 2011. Upon independence, the country is expected to be named Republic of South Sudan.
AMREF is pleased to announce a new and exciting partnership with the Open University (UK).
Africa has a serious shortage of health workers and many have little or no formal training; yet, they are the ‘front line’ of health care across Africa.
It has been three weeks since the devastating
bomb explosions at the Gongo la Mboto Military Base munitions storage area.
The explosions led to the deaths of more than 20 people and injured hundreds
more. Thousands were displaced and hundreds of children were separated
from their families. Since then, government ministries, non-governmental
organisations, hospitals and communities have come together to help heal
the wounds of those who were injured.
Local hospitals were completely overwhelmed
by the required need for urgent support. The hospitals suffered greatly
The Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Geoff Tooth, visited AMREF Headquarters on February 14, where he met and held discussions with AMREF Director General Dr Teguest Guerma, and members of AMREF’s Executive Committee. Mr Tooth was accompanied by AusAID Counsellor Sue Graves.
AMREF has dispatched a team of experts
to support the Ugandan Government's efforts to handle the aftermath of
the July 11 Kampala bomb blasts. The initial team comprising Dr Patrick
Akuku, a neurosurgeon, Dr Meshack Onguti, a maxillofacial/reconstructive
Surgeon and Jael Alaro, a psychologist, left for Entebbe airport aboard
an AMREF plane at 12 Noon on Thursday, July 15. This followed a request
from the Uganda Government to AMREF to assist in emergency care following
the twin explosions that rocked Kampala city on Sunday, July 11.
AMREF's ground breaking and award winning
electronic learning (eLearning) project has launched in Uganda. The project
which is designed to rapidly and cost effectively upgrade the skills of
nurses and health workers across Uganda, was launched following a stakeholders
meeting in Kampala.
"I am very pleased and indeed delighted
to witness the beginning of the eLearning project in Uganda," said
the Minister of Health Honourable Stephen Malinga who presided over the
launch. "As you are all aware, one of the biggest challenges in the
