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SUDAN HEALTH PROGRAM
Realizing that over 25 years of Civil War have devastated virtually all aspects of the lives of Sudanese, including the country’s health infrastructure, ATA has embarked on a healthcare program in South Sudan, where effects of the Civil War are more pronounced. The overall goal is to help deliver effective, basic, healthcare to certain of the people in this region of Sudan.
The Program is guided by the following goals: 1) Recruit and train Sudanese personnel so that they can competently administer health services; 2) Develop and improve the capacity of local citizens to effectively address their health needs by combining local resources with external knowledge/skills in a way that will produce sustainable health development; 3) Mobilize/partner with interested organizations, individuals, and/or corporations to address short-term health needs of the Sudanese population; and 4) through alliances with various individuals, organizations, and/or corporations, develop and improve health facilities in Southern Sudan.
THE MAAR & PALIAU HEALTH PROJECT
To facilitate the goals addressed above, Africa Today Associates has undertaken a pilot health project in Maar and Paliau, two villages in South Sudan.
ATA Recently completed a health needs assessment of the two villages. The study revealed that health needs of the people of Maar and Paliau are indeed acute. The two communities have suffered from outbreaks of various diseases, including measles, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and diarrhea. Health conditions in the communities are further worsened by the lack of effective medicine, which leads to the persistence of diseases. Poor personal hygiene and sanitation, as well as lack of safe, potable water also contributes to the detrimental health conditions faced by people of Maar and Paliau. Furthermore, the ability to effectively diagnose diseases - and to dispense proper medicine - is a problem, and the training levels community healthcare workers are minimal. These factors inhibit the ability of healthcare workers to provide effective services. There are many other issues which, if adequately addressed, can improve basic healthcare for the people of Maar and Paliau. Africa Today Associates is helping by undertaking a five-phased program that begins with mobilization and delivery of drugs, medicines, and other supplies to the people of Maar and Paliau. Ultimately, ATA hopes to help improve health facilities in the two villages. A health unit in Maar. The structure, which contains hardly any medicine, was riddled with bullets during the Civil War |
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