Keyit (formerly Arkwasyie) Medical Support Project, Ethiopia
Achievements for the Health Project in this very remote region of Ethiopia:-
Health Officer permanently stationed at Keyit to provide medical care and education about health matters.
Health Post built in 2011.
Mobile Health Unit set up in 2011.
Regular visits to the area by members of GRRDA our partner on the ground, and by supporters of CPA.
Background and History
In the remote Simien mountains region areas such as Arkwasyie there are Amhar villagers who live far from any medical support. The plight of these people was first brought to the Charity's attention by Gane and Marshall trekkers who visited the region 3 times in the late nineties.
Those treks identified an urgent need for medical support for serious health issues such as tuberculosis, gut infections, aids, and trachoma (which can lead to blindness if not treated). Child births without midwifery can go wrong with tragic and appalling consequences. The nearest medical support for Arkwasyie is a two day walk away.
For various reasons the project did not develop until on 11 November 2006, 20 individuals from accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward left the UK and went to Ethiopia to start a 9 day trek across the Simien Mountains, having raised funds to start a medical outreach program.
They travelled with two Ethiopian health workers, a UK doctor and an Ethiopian doctor, to spend a day in the village providing what medical assistance they could. On their day in Arkwasyie people had been queuing early and the gathering grew over the course of the morning to approx 1,000 people who needed medical help.
During the day, they managed to treat over 400 people. There was clearly a great need. Many people suffering diseases which could be easily treated, such as trachoma. It was certainly an emotional day with every single one of them taking away someone's story which will stay with them for a very long time.
They also discussed the needs of the school with the teacher - she looks after 900 children with one blackboard and no chairs or tables.
They agreed that the health workers would return to the village in January 2007 taking more drugs, and monthly visits after this. They will be tending to the ill and providing much needed health education. AIDS is a major issue in Ethiopia and girls as young as 13 regularly have children and unfortunately often with complications. One such mother suffered birth trauma and died whilst having her baby boy shortly before the 2006 visit. We have agreed to buy milk powder for the child to ensure that he has a chance of survival.
Here is the link to the online album of pics from the first BDO Simiens expedition (Nov 06). There are some really great images and the albums capture the purpose of the expedition. A second BDO expedition to Arkwasyie went out in November 2007. They raised more funds and were able to see first hand the progress of the work being performed by the health workers. This group also made contact with the school at Lori (located in the area to which Arkwasyie villagers will bme moved) and already their funds ae giving vital support to the school in terms of books and equipment.
In January 2009 two trainee doctors, Dr Jessie Payne and Dr Jessica Longley, undertook the seven days trek to Arkwasyie, accompanied by the Ethiopian Health Officers, and worked there for two weeks. They provided us with this report. Their work has been very important in helping CPA dev,lop the health projects in the Simiens since 2009.
In March 2010 Andru Chapman, one of the earliest supporters of the Health Project returned to the Simiens with a group of friends and supporters of CPA. They brought us fresh news of developments there.
In February 2011 Susie Pope, the Charity’s Secretary and her husband and four friends went out to Keyit to see the villagers and meet with the Charity nurse, Mr. Hawlt. They took with them various medical supplies and water purifying kits. See Susie's report from the field.
The purpose of their trip was to finalise the details of the building of the health post that is so desperately needed in the Simien Mountains. Subsequent to their visit it has now been confirmed that the clinic itself is finally finished and that the accommodation for Mr. Hawlt and the mobile nurse is underway
The actual Health Post is now being built at Keyit because Arkwasyie village was destroyed and the villagers moved in order to increase the boundaries of the Simiens NP.
It has taken four years for us to get to this point, and having been to Keyit, it is quite obvious that the need for health care in that remote part of the Simiens is paramount. Whilst with the villagers of Keyit, a girl came to the clinic having walked 10 hours. She had recently given birth to a stillborn baby. This is all too common is these remote areas. The consequence of the trauma was that she suffered a fistula and was in considerable pain and discomfort and had been ostracised by her family and her husband. Had there been a midwife present none of this would have happened and she would have had a perfectly healthy baby. Thankfully the CPA trekkers were able to get Abnet and her husband onto a lorry which took them on a two and a half day trip to the nearest fistula hospital in Bahir Dar. There she was treated, ‘mended’ and sent home again, a happy healthy woman. Now with the building of our new health post we will be able to embark on more educational projects and deal more efficiently with minor ailments of which there are far too many – septicaemia, eye infections, chest infections etc..
About a year ago Wendy Lovatt sought our support for a mobile health clinic (donkey and health nurse) to operate in the remote Simiens and be based out of Keyit. We helped her fund the set up costs and we are building a room for the mobile nurse at the Keyit Health Post. We are at present advertising for a new mobile nurse.
Once the accommodation and toilet blocks are finished we shall post more information on the website.
For further information or to make a donation please contact:
Susie Pope, Secretary, Community Projects Africa
Peter Tavy Lodge, Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Devon PL19 9NP United Kingdom
Tel: 01822810515
email info@communityprojectsafrica.org www.communityprojectsafrica.org
POSTCRIPT
If you want to visit this remote, wild and beautiful place and get to know the hardy and generous Amhar people, then you must consider one of our Charity Challenge expeditions to the Simien mountains. Follow this link for our Adventure Challenge Brochure and raise funds for CPA at the same time as enjoying a trek to remote and wonderful Africa.
NB the link make take a minute or two to open the brochure.