Supporting Rural Health Centres in Ethiopia

Yasume is 63 years old and has come 2 hours from home today to Serbo Health Centre with her husband and her young daughter, who has been feeling unwell for the past few days. After looking after the daughter, the health officer spoke to Yasume about her high blood pressure, which she was diagnosed with two years ago. At the time her symptoms (headaches, palpitations and swollen ankles) were badly affecting her and making housework difficult. When she came to the clinic two years ago her blood pressure was measured and found to be high; she was started on medication straight away. Now Yasume comes to the clinic every month to collect her medication and see the chronic disease health officer, who checks her blood pressure, asks about symptoms and prescribes another month of drug treatment. Her symptoms no longer cause her trouble and Yasume says she’s feeling a lot better.

Misku is 26 and she hass had epilepsy for 12 years. She lives 3 hours from the health centre and works at home cooking and cleaning. Before starting treatment at the health centre, she was having a seizure at least every week. Nowadays, however, she rarely seizes at all, though has had attacks during labour. She comes regularly for her appointments and to collect her seizure medicine, phenobarbitone. Misku acknowledges the treatment has made her feel a lot better.

We rely on generous donations to support and provide treatment to individuals just like Misku, giving them an improved quality of life.