Our Work in Ethiopia
Widely recognized as the cradle of human civilization, Ethiopia has a unique culture with its own alphabet, time system and calendar. However, in more recent times, Ethiopia has become better known for its suffering. Decades of armed conflict, combined with persistent drought, famine and malnutrition, plague the population. With the months between harvests now simply called “the hunger season,” Ethiopia is among the world’s poorest countries with one of its highest child malnutrition rates.
Against this backdrop, International Medical Corps operates three nutrition programs in drought-affected areas of Ethiopia. We provide technical and logistical assistance to the Ministry of Health and build the capacity of health care staff to implement Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition programs. To enable communities in Ethiopia to drive their own sustainable development in coming years, International Medical Corps promotes behavioral change on nutrition through our popular mother care group model. This model trains mothers in child-rearing practices that reduce health risks to children already weakened by food insecurity and threatened by malnutrition, such as exclusive breast-feeding and good hygiene and sanitation practices. We work to reduce susceptibility to diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality among malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women by integrating hygiene and sanitation into ongoing nutrition programs.
With support from the United Nations Population Fund, International Medical Corps has been implementing reproductive health programs in food insecure areas of Ethiopia since 2006. We have reached over 300,000 caregivers with lessons on maternal and reproductive health, including family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention. To improve reproductive health services, International Medical Corps trains health extension workers, health care providers and traditional birth attendants on clean, safe delivery practices, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, adolescent reproductive health services, and treatment and management of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. We also provide medical supplies and equipment to health facilities to improve the quality of reproductive health services. In addition, International Medical Corps has been implementing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) programming in two refugee camps in the Dolo Ado area since 2009 to provide psychosocial support and empowerment interventions for survivors of GBV and build the response capacity of health service providers.
In response to the recent influx of Somali refugees fleeing famine and escalating conflict in Somalia, International Medical Corps began an emergency nutrition response program in August 2011. The intervention targeted malnourished mothers and children in two camps in Dolo Ado, Somali Region, by providing technical, material and logistical support for the screening and treatment of severe and moderate malnutrition. International Medical Corps also expanded our GBV programs to a third refugee camp in September 2011 to respond to emergency GBV needs among the new arrivals.