Nearly 22,000 people live in Debre Berhan, North Shewa Zone in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Internally displaced people (IDPs) located in three camps: China, Woynshet, and Bakelo Camp, and mostly coming from Wollega, Oromia region. Besides camp residents, there are thousands of IDPs hosted in the communities whose living conditions still need crucial attention.
Moreover, the conflict and insecurity in the region compromise access to basic health services even for the host communities, with recurrent service interruption, stock-outs of medicines and lack of essential nutritional supplements, among others.
In order to cope with this situation, CUAMM together with Cifa has implemented the project “Promoting protection and access to health and nutrition services for internally displaced people and vulnerable communities in emergency situations”, funded by the Italian Cooperation.
It is precisely thanks to this intervention that Medina Yesuf and her family’s life has improved.
She is 26 years-old woman, who was displaced from East Wellega due to internal conflict and now she’s living with her husband and child in China Camp IDP site.
She firstly got in touch with CUAMM, after undergoing a surgery for an extra pulmonary TB case in Debre Berhan Hospital and she received TB medications and follow-up treatment through CUAMM’s mobile health and nutrition team (MHNT).
‹‹Thank you Allah; I am near to finishing my medication now. My husband was also tested for TB because he was sick. But he is fine››, Medina said.
The Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT) maintained continuous operations, delivering essential health services to 21,258 beneficiaries across IDP camps and host communities. The team, composed of a Health Officer, Nurse, and Midwife, was strengthened by the recruitment of a Pharmacist, enhancing service efficiency.
Despite receiving her own treatment, Medina remained deeply concerned about her son’s deteriorating health. Born with a small swelling on his back, the lump gradually enlarged and began to leak fluid. Therefore, when he turned ten months, Medina sought help from the CUAMM MHNT Clinic at China Camp. The medical team first referred him to Debre Berhan Hospital and then to Hakim Gizaw Hospital, which recommended further examination in Addis Ababa before surgery could be performed. However, due to the costs she couldn’t afford, Medina returned to the IDP camp, hoping that someone might help her child receive the care he urgently needed.
The project also supported referral services and healthcare reimbursements for childbirth assistance, facilitating access for vulnerable populations.
There were a total of 435 referrals.
‹‹At that time, Cifa was providing financial assistance to the most vulnerable groups in China camp, and I was selected as a beneficiary through the CUAMM medical team. I was given 10.000 birr and I was able to take my son to Addis Ababa for critical examination››, Medina continued.
Following the assessment, she returned to Hakim Gizaw Hospital, where her child successfully underwent surgery.
‹‹They take good care of us. If it weren’t for the CUAMM medical team, my son would have died›› – Medina concluded.
Today, Medina and her son regularly visit the CUAMM MHNT clinic, where they continue receiving essential follow-up care and treatment after their surgeries.
Throughout the project, 47.170 people accessed to health and nutrition services, including dedicated mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) services. Among other services, outpatient consultations, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, nutritional and NCD screenings, mental health support, GBV case management, emergency referrals, and health education sessions.
Only in the period the end of May and September, OPD medical consultations were 5,941, 51 antenatal care visits, 891 children and 330 pregnant and lactating women underwent nutritional screening, some of them identified with moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
In addition, 290 women received family planning services (272 short-acting, 14 long-acting, and 4 emergency contraceptives); 2,673 individuals screened for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Procurement activities ensured the availability of micronutrients, therapeutic and supplementary foods, medical equipment, raising awareness materials among others, to support mobile clinics and health facilities.
Training and capacity building were an integral part of the project, significantly improving knowledge and skills among healthcare workers and community members. 150 training sessions were carried out. Technical assistance and supportive supervision were provided to improve data collection, reporting accuracy, and overall health service delivery. The project facilitated coordination and review meetings with stakeholders to assess progress, share best practices, and plan for continued improvements.
Additionally, the project supported an integrated vaccination and cholera prevention campaign in collaboration with local health authorities.
Ensuring quality care and making health and nutrition services more accessible and sustainable. This remains at the heart of Cuamm’s commitment, always and especially in the most fragile areas such as Debre Berhan.
