Toronto, September 9 – Canadian classical soprano Measha Brueggergosman announces she will perform a special Toronto concert on Saturday, October 17th.

Recovering from heart surgery in June, the 32-year old darling of classical music is proving she’s as fierce as ever. On the cusp of a brand new record release, the singer is kicking off a series of North American concerts in support of AMREF – the African Medical & Research Foundation – a cause close to her heart.

An Evening with Measha Brueggergosman takes place at 5pm on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 inside the historic St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in downtown Toronto, followed by a private reception for 100 guests. This will be Brueggergosman’s sole Toronto performance of 2009 and promises to be a night to remember with none other than Fashion Television producer and star, Jeanne Beker as the evening’s host.

In 2007, Brueggergosman became the Goodwill Ambassador for AMREF Canada and has travelled twice to visit AMREF’s vital HIV/AIDS, malaria, water and sanitation and health education projects in Uganda and Kenya. Her experience with street children in Kenya and with war-affected children living in camps in northern Uganda strengthened her dedication to help them break free from the cycle of poor health and poverty.

A major supporter of AMREF’s work, Brueggergosman is now giving her time and her incredible voice for this special performance with 100% of net proceeds helping empower the most vulnerable and marginalized people in Africa improve their health and fight poverty.

Tickets for this special performance are $60, $125 and $175 and are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, members of the public can contact AMREF Canada at 416-961-6981 or info@amrefcanada.org.


For more information please contact:
Salima Pirani
spirani@amrefcanada.org,
416-961-6981

June 11, 2009.

On Saturday, October 17th, Canada's most beloved soprano, Measha Brueggergosman will take the stage to perform specially-selected works in support of AMREF. 

As AMREF Canada's Goodwill Ambassador, Measha is lending her time and voice for this special evening with 100% of proceeds supporting vulnerable and marginalized children and families in Africa. 

Set inside the historic St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in downtown Toronto, An Evening with Measha Brueggergosman will welcome guests for a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience, followed by an exclusive reception with Measha herself. 

For tickets and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

AMREF Canada at 416-961-6981 or by email at info@amrefcanada.org.

For media inquiries contact:

Salima Pirani
AMREF Canada Communications Manager
(416) 961-6981
spirani@amrefcanada.org 

Back to AMREF Canada Press Releases

Every year approximately 20 million people in Kenya are exposed to malaria which has a tremendous impact on the country’s already weak health system.

More than 30 per cent of Kenyan outpatients who visit a doctor are sick with malaria while 19 per cent of hospital inpatients are also diagnosed with the disease.

Kenya’s high poverty levels and insufficient number of health workers make the situation even worse. With a population of almost 40 million people, Kenya has less than 5,000 doctors. In Canada there are more than 65,000 physicians for a smaller population.

In Kenya’s Eastern Makueni district malaria is an epidemic affecting pregnant women and children under 5 most severely. When pregnant women contract malaria they are at risk of delivering their babies at dangerously low birth weights, contracting anemia and miscarrying.

The situation is even worse because of the critical shortage of health workers – there is only 1 doctor for every 62,000 people in Makueni and health facilities are poorly equipped.

Adding to the challenges is poor data collection across the region. The majority of mothers and children who die from malaria in the district never even get to a health clinic.

AMREF’s Work

To better prevent and manage malaria in Makueni, AMREF will train a variety of health professionals to provide better quality front line services.

Specifically AMREF will train;

200 community health workers

8 community health extension workers

20 members of Makueni’s district health team

These important front line care providers will distribute mosquito nets, educate women on how to prevent malaria, recognize symptoms and distribute treatment.

AMREF will also work closely with the local community-based health management information system. Community health workers will be trained to collect data from people in their villages (number of births, cases of malaria, immunization coverage) and enter the information into computers at the health management information system. The information will then be used by health authorities to better direct resources and services where they are most needed.

Special thanks to The Charles & Rita Field Marsham Foundation for its generous support of this project. 

The Preventing Malaria Among Mothers and Newborns in Makueni is part of AMREF’s 4-country Building the Capacity of Community Health Workers program. Learn more about this program in South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Official Outcome Statement from 2nd Global Forum on
Human Resources for Health

Bangkok, 29 January 2011

The Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health (HRH) in Bangkok reviewed progress and renewed the commitment to strengthening the global health workforce, restating that a robust health workforce is a core element of health systems in all countries, and critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Universal Health Coverage, with the vision that :

All people, everywhere, shall have access to a skilled, motivated and supported health worker within a robust health system.

Key advances in health workforce development have occurred over the past three years since the First Global Forum in Kampala. The adoption of the WHO Global Code of Practice in 2010 on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel (the Code) was a major achievement.

The 2010 proceedings of the United Nations High Level Summit on the MDGs, the launch of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children's Health, the European Union Global Health Strategy, the African Union Summit, and other events have added momentum to health workforce development.

The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health states that an additional 2.6 to 3.5 million healthcare workers would contribute significantly to the lowest‐income countries reaching MDGs 4 and 5. Requirements to achieve universal health coverage in a wider range of countries would be higher. The progress report on the Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action demonstrates some advances, as well as challenges requiring increased attention, in the priority countries most affected by health workforce challenges. The upcoming UN General Assembly sessions on HIV/AIDS and on Non‐Communicable Diseases will provide further opportunities to highlight the vital role of health workers.

The participants of the Second Global Forum reiterate the principles of the Kampala Declaration and the Code as instruments for alignment and accountability at global, regional, national and local levels, and call upon all stakeholders to accelerate implementation in a comprehensive manner.

Read then entire Outcome Statment.

Invest in Innovation to Increase Africa’s Health Workforce

 
January 21, 2011

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) At the Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in Bangkok, Thailand, the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) is calling on world governments and development partners to move beyond mere discussions and to take concrete action to solve the global health worker crisis.

“We need to walk the talk by investing in human resources for health,” says Dr Peter Ngatia, AMREF’s Director for Capacity Building. “Walking the talk means investing in innovative methods of training and retaining health workers. Scaling up of human resource production cannot happen unless we invest in the use of technology to train the numbers that are required.”

AMREF is the world’s leading African health development organization and has been training health workers for close to 50 years, including clinical officers, community midwives and community health workers. AMREF’s current focus is on improving the health of women and children by focusing on human resources for health, health leadership, governance and management, health management information systems, and strengthening of community systems.

“The 105 medical schools in Africa do not have the capacity to meet the urgent demand for doctors, nurses and midwives among many other cadres of health workers. Yet until we have adequately trained numbers of health workers, the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will remain an illusion,” says Dr. Ngatia.

AMREF believes that the following areas must be addressed in developing human resources for health:

• Increase in the number of health workers educated in Africa
• Increase in the number of health workers educated in developed countries to stem immigration of Africa’s health workforce
• Reduce rural-urban migration of health workers
• Reduce movement of health workers from public to private sectors
• Increase development of skills and competencies of the existing health workforce
• Make taskshifting a priority. Taskshifting is when specific tasks are moved where appropriate from highly skilled health workers to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications e.g Doctors to clinical officers, making the health systems more efficient and increases access to quality health services.

These can only be achieved through:

• Use of innovative methods of training health workers, including doctors, clinical officers, nurses, midwives and community health workers e.g. application of ICT, e-learning, m-learning and telemedicine
• Increased investment in production of health workers
• Delivery of the 15% budgetary allocations pledged by African governments to improve the working conditions of health workers in rural areas and public health facilities
• Increased investment by global health initiatives in HRH development in Africa

AMREF has been nominated for three Awards of Excellence at the Forum and with be sharing our expertise on improving human resources for healthby participating in panel discussions and organizing workshops.

For more information

Dr Peter Ngatia, Director of Capacity Building, Tel: +254 722712630 peter.ngatia@amref.org 

Nzomo Mwita, Technical Specialist, Training, Tel: + 254 721440462 nzomo.mwita@amref.org 

Melanie Sharpe, Communications Officer 416-961-6981 or 416-871-7345 (cell) msharpe@amrefcanada.org

(February 8, 2010) AMREF would like to commend Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent announcement that decreasing maternal and child mortality rates will be a top priority in the upcoming G8 meetings in Canada this June.

“Maternal mortality is the most drastic health inequality in the world today,” says Dr. John Nduba AMREF’s Director of Reproductive and Child Health. “We hope the Prime Minister’s recent announcement will translate into saving mothers and children from unnecessary death.”

Every year 280,000 mothers in Sub-Saharan Africa die unnecessarily for want of simple, affordable medical care.

A woman in Africa has a one in sixteen chance of dying in childbirth compared to a woman in Canada who has a one in thirty thousand chance.

But research shows access to trained midwives with equipped health centres nearby will save 80% of mothers at risk.

“What women in the developed world take for granted - skilled midwives, an operating room if necessary and antibiotics – these apparently basic things are regarded as great luxury in Africa,” says Dr. Nduba.

AMREF is optimistic that the Canadian government will mobilize other G8 governments to improve maternal and child health by supporting initiatives training health workers across Africa.

Read Prime Minister Harper’s entire statement ‘G8 Agenda: Focus on Human Welfare.’

For more information contact:

Melanie Sharpe
Communications Coordinator
AMREF Canada
(416) 961-6981
msharpe@amrefcanada.org

AMREF’s Work Saving Mothers and Newborns

AMREF is Africa’s most experienced and respected health development organization in the world. Founded in East Africa in 1957, AMREF is the only organization in Africa that has trained health workers for over fifty years.

In the last ten years AMREF has trained over 20,000 midwives in Sub-Saharan Africa. An AMREF trained midwife increases the chance of a mother surviving childbirth by six times.

Find out more about AMREF’s work saving mothers and newborns.

AMREF works in partnership with government and health departments and other NGOs, our impact is long-lasting and cost-effective.

To help reduce maternal deaths please donate today.

By: Sarah Boseley 
The Guardian
October 5, 2009. 

 The lives of a third of the women who die in childbirth could be saved if a cheap and common drug to prevent haemorrhage, together with antibiotics, were readily available in their villages, according to a paper published in one of the world's top medical journals, the Lancet.

If Aids has been battled into something of a corner – with HIV infection levelling off in some poor countries – it has much to do with the noisy global campaign to get antiretroviral drugs to millions of people in Africa. Mathematician Dr Christina Pagel and global health specialist Anthony Costello, from University College London, believe a roll-out of much more common, cheap and simpler pills to communities in Africa and Asia would have a dramatic impact on the death rates among mothers.

Deaths in childbirth are a major focus now of the global health community, and a cause championed by the British prime minister, Gordon Brown, at the UN last week. Brown is pushing for free healthcare in poor countries, which would save the lives of many impoverished women and children.

The focus of the safe childbirth movement is on improving and increasing care in clinics and maternity units. That is hugely important, argue Pagel and Costello, but in remote areas like Katine, in north-east Uganda, where the healthcare facilities are inadequate, badly stocked or too distant, thousands of lives could be saved if efforts were made to ensure the basic, cheap drugs were accessible.

Their paper is a mathematical model. Costello says he has been arguing for many years that a trial was needed, but has not been able to secure funds. The statistics, from Pagel, have convinced the Lancet's editor, Richard Horton, however, who wrote in an editorial that the approach "has the potential to transform our attitudes to maternal health. We might now be able to contemplate donor-funded drug-delivery programmes, akin to those available for HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, in addition to health facility strengthening. Such a strategy might radically alter the prospects for pregnant women in low-income settings."

The basic drugs are antibiotics to stop deaths from sepsis – blood poisoning as a result of infection during childbirth – and misoprostol, a pill that will make the uterus contract if taken after the delivery of the placenta, preventing haemorrhage. In the UK, women are usually given an injection of oxytocin for the same purpose.

Sepsis and haemorrhage are the main reasons women die in childbirth in Katine - where the Guardian is supporting a development project implemented by the African Medical and Research Foundation - and elsewhere in the developing world. The World Health Organisation says 9% to 10% of deaths in childbirth in Africa are due to sepsis. All the African obstetricians Costello has spoken to say it is closer to half. "Why is it that Bangladesh and Nepal have halved their maternal mortality rate in the last 15 years, but have got very low rates of attended delivery?" he asks. "The answer is that you can't walk more than a few hundred yards in Bangladesh without a man trying to sell you an antibiotic." Traditional birth attendants hand them out readily to women at the slightest sign of infection. Read more.  

G8 Did Not do Enough for African Health, says AMREF

July 13, 2009

The 2009 summit did not make any concrete commitments to improving health in Africa

At the conclusion of the 2009 G8 Summit, the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) is disappointed that no concrete conclusions were made to ensure the right to health for African communities. 

“It is striking that on two different occasions Italian President Berlusconi, while stating publicly that there had to be a change in the methods of giving aid to Africa, managed to mention almost all priority sectors of intervention, except for health,” says Giulia De Ponte, AMREF’s spokesperson in L’Aquila, where the summit was held. 

AMREF acknowledges that the G8 2009 final Communiqué on Development and Africa does certainly address key issues – particularly the global health worker shortage and the need to strengthen health systems – which are major stumbling blocks on the way to achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals. In particular, the L’Aquila G8 Health Experts’ Report emphasizes the need for the G8 to prioritize integration of health services and access to primary health care in order to strengthen health systems. Nevertheless, the final Communiqué does not go beyond statements and fails to state any concrete steps of action. 

“Consensus that human resources for health need to be supported already exists within the international community and is codified in the 2008 Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action. The fact that the G8 Communiqué simply ‘notes’ this does not move things forward. The 2009 G8 summit missed the opportunity to act upon the Kampala consensus, and to translate statements into investments and solid action,” says Victoria Kimotho of AMREF Headquarters. 

AMREF believes that, if the statements are to have any meaning, the G8 must: 

Urgently support developing countries to develop and fully implement robust health workforce plans. These plans need to be comprehensive, evidence-based and needs-based, linked to national health strategies, budgeted and with implementation strategies in place. 

These implementation plans need to significantly scale up support systems for community and mid-level health workers. 

Fund these plans with sufficient and sustained investments: over the next ten years, $30.6 billion is needed for pre-service education in sub-Saharan Africa to fill the region’s gap of 1.5 million health workers. 

Expand their own domestically-trained health workforce, reducing brain drain ‘pull’ factors. 

Influence IMF policies to expand fiscal space for health spending and enable civil society and government ownership of these policies. 

Include health workforce in the G8 follow-up mechanism. 

For more information contact; 

Salima Pirani
AMREF Canada, Communications Manager
spirani@amrefcanada.org
(416) 961-6981

Investing Donor Dollars in Africa: What Works

April 6, 2011 – Director General Dr. Teguest Guerma, MD and infectious disease expert of East African based, African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), will be in Ottawa available to speak with media on World Health Day (April 7, 2011). She will also be in Montreal on Monday, April 11 and Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12 and 13.

Dr. Guerma can speak to:

• Effective use of Canadian aid investments in African health development including maternal and child health
• African strategies that work in disease reduction, treatment and prevention
• Training and retaining African health care workers; using e-Learning to reach remote worker
• Working with traditional healers to improve health outcomes in isolated communities
• Canadian partnerships in innovative global health research

Dr. Guerma, will also address a public forum (media are welcome) on Effective Strategies for Improving Health of Mothers and Children across Africa on Friday, April 8 from 12:00pm – 1:30pm at:

North-South Institute/CIDA Speaker Series:
Palais des Congrès, 50 blvd. Maisonneuve,
Room / Salle Désert A, Gatineau, QC Canada

About Dr. Tegeust Guerma: AMREF’s Director General began her distinguished career in public health in Senegal and Burundi where she practiced as a medical doctor and infectious disease expert before spending 17 years at the World Health Organization (WHO) in various countries around the globe. As Acting Director (2009-2010) of the WHO’s HIV/AIDS department Dr. Guerma co-led the successful 3x5 initiative to provide three million people living with HIV/AIDS with life-prolonging treatment by the end of 2005.    

About AMREF: Widely acknowledged as the world’s leading African health development organization, AMREF was founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 1957 as the Flying Doctors Service.   Recipients of both the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health http://www.gatesfoundation.org/gates-award-global-health and the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/prize/ceremonies AMREF staff and experts work to improve the health of the most disadvantaged in Africa, advocate for improved health practices and policies while sharing knowledge, materials and expertise with governments, other NGOs and international health agencies. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

Melanie Sharpe, AMREF Canada Communications Officer
Office - 416 961-6981      Mobile - 416-871-7345       msharpe@amrefcanada.org

Return to AMREF Canada's media section. 

Horn of Africa Crisis:  AMREF Spokespeople Available for Comment

July 21, 2011 –AMREF Spokespeople are available for comment on the devastating health implications the severe drought is having on communities across Kenya, beyond the Somali border region and Northern refugee camps, and the urgent need to implement measures that will result in long-lasting health results.   

Commentary available on current situation in Kenya’s south-eastern and coastal regions where 3.5 million people are being affected, impact on vulnerable populations including women, children and people living with HIV/AIDS and TB, the widespread and long-term consequences of food shortages on community health in the region and ensuring a sustainable response.

Headquartered in Nairobi and with 50 years experience, AMREF is Africa’s leading health development organization. 

CURRENT HEALTH IMPACTS OF CRISIS

• Malnutrition among children and pregnant women as relief food is heavy in calories but deficient in essential vitamins and proteins and harvests have been destroyed by drought
• Increased rates of diarrhea and other water and sanitation related diseases such as malaria, trachoma, typhoid, skin diseases and worms infestation.
• Families cannot meet costs of basic health care such as immunizations, family planning services, pre and post-natal care

AMREF RESPONSES

• Short term – Mitigating acute effects of starvation, lack of water, disease outbreak, loss of livestock, absenteeism from school, malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women
• Medium term – After current drought situation is over AMREF will work to alleviate the effects and aftermath including, chronic malnutrition, possible deaths, inadequate safe water, loss of livelihoods, poor hygiene and food insecurity
• Long term – Strengthening communities’ abilities to cope with future drought situations through sustainable water sanitation and hygiene, maternal and neonatal health and HIV/AIDS interventions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Melanie Sharpe, AMREF Canada Communications Officer
Office - 416 961-6981 Mobile - 416-871-7345 msharpe@amrefcanada.org

February 16, 2012

NAIROBI – Chase Bank Foundation has launched a partnership with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) aimed at saving the lives of thousands of women and children. This is the first of many initiatives to be undertaken by the Chase Bank Foundation, which was registered last October under the Trustees Act in line with one of Chase Bank’s core values of social responsibility to improve the lives of those around us.

The Foundation’s tag line is to EMPOWER, IMPACT AND SUPPORT people in our society. It aims at making a difference in people’s lives and giving back to society. The long-term vision of the Foundation is to empower women and to make Chase Bank the country’s first fully eco-friendly bank. Chase Foundation’s current initiatives are focused on women and the environment, aiming to make a difference in society.

AMREF’s vision is for lasting health change in African communities. As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, AMREF has decided to focus on the health of women and children for the next three years.

In the strong belief that no woman should die giving life and that no child should be left an orphan due to lack of health care for women, AMREF launched the international Stand Up for African Mothers campaign in October 2011. The aim of the campaign is to draw attention to the plight of African mothers and to mobilise support across the world to ensure that mothers get the basic medical care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.

“African women are at the centre of the social and economic development chain’ says AMREF Director General Dr Teguest Guerma. “The death of a mother while giving birth is a big setback for African society. Through the training of more midwives, AMREF is helping to deliver an immediate, sustainable solution. A healthy Africa needs healthy mothers, and African mothers need African midwives.”

The Stand Up for African Mothers campaign aims at training 15,000 midwives by 2015 and in this way contribute towards reduction of maternal deaths by 25 per cent.

About Chase Bank: Chase Bank is a locally progressive bank incorporated in 1995 with an Islamic window that places a
keen focus on the SME. The Bank, modeled around relationship banking, provides its customers with value added services while creating memorable customer experiences by ensuring all customer relationships are managed meticulously for mutual benefit.

About AMREF: The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) is the largest African health development
non-governmental international organisation based in Africa, committed to improving health and health care in Africa. AMREF is headquartered in Nairobi, and works in more than 37 African countries.

For further information, please contact:
Emily Mworia
Manager, Fundraising & Partnerships
Email: Emily.mworia@amref.org
Tel: + 254 20 6993307

February 14, 2012

AMREF Canada is pleased to announce a second major CIDA partnership initiative that will train health workers and increase access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. This new project will focus on improving the health of mothers and their children in the pastoralist and semi pastoralist communities of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia.

Through this initiative AMREF is responding to the lack of quality maternal and child health services in this underserviced region of 629,500 people. With an approximate population size of Kingston, Victoria and Trois-Rivières combined, the region is serviced by only three doctors and one single hospital. Not surprisingly, maternal and infant death rates are extremely high. Due to the remote location and inadequate health resources, most women are forced to deliver their babies at home, in unsanitary conditions, without the help of a skilled health worker. Poor roads combined with an almost impassable terrain also inhibit access to health services, resulting in an increase of preventable illness and life-threatening disease.

In response to this urgent situation, AMREF Canada has designed a comprehensive maternal and child health initiative so that pregnant women, newborns and children in South Omo have the means to respond to the threat of illness, disease and death and lead healthy, productive lives.

Over a three year period, the program will increase the number of skilled healthcare workers and healthcare facilities in the area, strengthen laboratory services and provide education and treatment that will combat communicable diseases and malnutrition which often affect pregnant women and newborns. Over 850 individuals will receive healthcare training which will have a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people in the region.

This project is undertaken with $2.25 M of financial support from the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

AMREF Canada is currently fundraising for $750,000 to meet its total fundraising obligation for this program. Please help us improve the lives of women and children of South Omo by donating to the project today.

To make your donation please click on the DONATE button and request that your gift is designated to “Maternal and Child Health – Ethiopia” or call our offices at 416-961-6981 or toll free at 1-888-318-4442.

Thank you for your continued support of AMREF Canada.

 AMREF’s Drought Response Team Continues Programming in Kenya

Canadians Support Families Affected by Horn of Africa Drought

Feb 13, 2012

Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, AMREF continues to support families in Kenya who have been affected by the drought. AMREF supporters in Canada have so far donated more than $35,000 for a nutritional supplementation program in Makueni. The program provides food to children under five, pregnant and nursing mothers and the elderly. To date, more than 21,000 kg of rice and 7,000 kg of beans have been distributed to 772 people, mainly children.

In addition to Canadians’ donations, AMREF supporters around the world have contributed more than US $5.7 million. With this funding, AMREF has helped more than 1.7 million people in nine regions. Working with the Kenyan government, United Nation agencies and other development groups, we have focused on supporting families by improving nutrition for mothers and children under 5, ensuring access to safe water, providing education on sanitation and hygiene, and providing health services.

Some parts of Kenya have seen a significant improvement. In Turkana, global acute malnutrition (used as a measure for the nutritional status of a particular population) has been reduced to 13.7 per cent from a high of 37.4 per cent. In the border region with Somalia, however, malnutrition remains high at more than 25 per cent.

With our focus on long-term solutions, AMREF’s support for families will continue to assist vulnerable groups to face these and other challenges. You can join us in supporting long-term solutions for African communities by making a donation today.

January 20, 2012

Although the headlines have all but disappeared and the global sense of urgency has faded, the effects of last year’s drought are still very much felt by many communities in the Horn of Africa. AMREF’s dedicated Drought Response Team is still hard at work responding to the ongoing challenges faced by displaced and disadvantaged families, helping them to rebuild their lives, their health and their resilience. Globally, the AMREF family has raised US$ 5.7 million for drought-affected communities in Kenya and Ethiopia. These generous contributions from our supporters around the world have helped fund life-saving initiatives including the distribution of over 90 metric tonnes of emergency food supplements, the building and rehabilitation of wells, rain-water catchment tanks and other water sources to serve over 70,000 people and their livestock, and hygiene education activities in communities and schools directly reaching over 6,000 people.

In addition, these donations have purchased 15 motorcycles, 300 bicycles and 5 ambulances to help health workers see more patients every day. Your contributions have also funded medical outreach camps to diagnose and treat over 6,500 babies, children and their parents for malnutrition, malaria and other common illnesses, and distributed over 300,000 chlorine tablets to ensure safe drinking water for communities across Kenya.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, AMREF was able to ramp up their efforts in drought affected AMREF project sites in the Horn of Africa.

However, our mission is one of long-term sustainability, and to that end, our work is far from over. Please help AMREF create lasting change and bolster health services capacity within communities vulnerable to the threat of future crises. With your support we can provide a solid foundation for healthcare to ensure that communities are better equipped to manage these types of calamitous events. Please donate today.

 Responding to the Horn of Africa Crisis

Dec 6, 2011

The rains have finally come.

The “short rains” have arrived, starting to relieve the severe water scarcity experienced in the past months by many communities in the drought-affected Horn of Africa. Unfortunately, the rain doesn’t immediately alleviate the effects of the drought or provide safe water to drink. The torrential downpours are too heavy -even for the parched land- to absorb leading to flash floods, washed out roads and the contamination of water sources. This leaves already stressed communities vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as acute diarrhoea, trachoma and malaria, and makes delivering food aid, bed nets and health care all the more difficult.

AMREF is well aware of the unique dangers that this situation presents and is taking measures to prevent a secondary emergency from arising. AMREF is providing people with mosquito nets to prevent malaria (a real danger due to accumulation of standing water) and distributing chlorine tablets to purify water. Teams are also on the ground responding to nutrition needs of mothers, pregnant and lactating women and children under five years by distributing nutrient-rich supplementary food. Additionally, AMREF is delivering much needed health care, building and rehabilitating wells, and educating communities about the importance of practicing safe hygiene and sanitation and about other ways to keep their families healthy.

The AMREF Drought Response Coordination Team continues to work on developing sustainable and lasting solutions to the challenges communities are facing, and making sure that help is reaching those who need it most. . In October alone, AMREF delivered medical supplies targeting over 7,286 people and acquired growth monitoring tools such as mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes and Salter scales to assess malnutrition in babies and children. Over 5000 kg of Unimix, a nutrient-rich food supplement, and 842 L of cooking oil have been distributed to Kenyan families as well as over 800m3 of safe water, benefiting several communities and schools. Another 45 metric tonnes of supplementary food is ready to be delivered.

AMREF remains committed to working with communities in Ethiopia and Kenya to respond to this crisis and to help families empower themselves with the knowledge and skills to meet any future emergencies. Indeed, field staff have reported that communities with whom AMREF had previously worked were faring better than communities s who had not benefitted from AMREF programs. To find out more about the drought in the Horn of Africa, and the associated food insecurity and humanitarian interventions, join us on December 7th for the AMREF Canada Coffeehouse Speaker Series hosted by Urbana Coffee.

October 13, 2011

AMREF Responds to the Drought - A Canadian's Story

Stephanie Irvine, one of AMREF Canada's former CIDA-funded interns working in Uganda, recently touched base with us to share her experiences working with the AMREF-Kenya Emergency Drought Response Team. Her story follows:

In the horn of Africa, climate change and failed rains have resulted in a famine of epic proportions. In August, 12 million people were reported to be measurably affected by the drought, of which 3.7 million people were deemed extremely food insecure and in need of urgent, lifesaving aid. Attention has centered on those who have been displaced from war- torn Somalia however, Somali refugees comprise only one-third of those suffering.

In the dry, arid landscape of Northwestern Kenya, the pastoralists of the Turkana tribe are especially hard hit. The region is isolated, historically neglected and characterized by poor road access and limited infrastructure each negatively affecting livelihoods and health status. As a culture that thrives on a diet of milk, meat and animal blood, the Turkana are greatly challenged, having to walk long distances in hopes of discovering water and grazing grounds for their livestock. Milk production has decreased and thousands of animals have succumbed, leaving behind a thick trail of malnutrition among the Turkana people.

Children under 5, pregnant women and the elderly are at the highest risk. Among children under 5, rates of malnutrition have reached 37% (The Lancet) in the region. Productivity and economic development of future generations will be undermined due to the marked, long-term consequences of malnutrition. Children who survive will experience delayed achievement of milestones and will be deprived of reaching their intellectual potential. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of having a low-birth weight infant and experiencing an obstetric emergency, and the elderly are suffering weakened immunity.

AMREF has been present in the Turkana district for over 50 years and continues to serve and support the community throughout the crisis. I joined the AMREF-Kenya Emergency Drought Response Team in August. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, AMREF has expanded programming throughout the region, playing a key role on the frontlines delivering food aid, essential medicines and constructing and rejuvenating boreholes.

During a blanket-supplementary feeding initiative and medical outreach on the outskirts of Lokichoggio, Turkana, I had the opportunity to speak with a beneficiary named Maratanu, a 26-year-old mother of three children under 5 years. During our conversation, she expressed gratitude for the support from AMREF: “We depleted all our resources since the rains and are forced to walk all day in search of water. We have lost many of our cattle and camels. I feel weak and can no longer make enough milk for my baby. My children are too tired because of hunger. I worry for the health of my family. I am so thankful to receive food, water purifiers and medicine. We will become strong once again. We are very thankful.”

This particular initiative involved the delivery of a micronutrient enriched corn-soya product mixed with oil to provide enough energy and nutrients to nourish each child under 5 for 16 days of the month. High-energy, ready to drink nutritional beverages were also delivered to pregnant women and the elderly. Our medical staff provided vitamin A supplementation and de-worming treatment for all children under-5 years; ante- and post- natal care for all mother; and distributed medical treatments for other common ailments such as eye infections, respiratory infection and weeping skin lesions.

The impact of the 2011 drought and famine in the horn of Africa will resonate long after the rains fall and AMREF will continue to continue to commit to and support the community to ensure better health for Africa.

September 6, 2011

Helping Forgotten Communities Impacted by Drought

Lamu, a coastal district of eastern Kenya, is now witnessing the dire effects of the drought, which is spreading across the Horn of Africa.

Women and children are most vulnerable and have become weak and prone to fatal waterborne diseases. Young men, desperate to find water and pasture for their livestock have had no choice but to search further and further away. Women, children and the elderly have been left behind, with hardly anything to eat.

Apart from the government, AMREF is the only organisation providing support to communities in the area.  Lamu is one of Kenya’s poorest regions, with 60% of the population living in poverty.

The lack of clean water, coupled with increasing malnutrition has increased the rates of diseases such as diarrhea particularly among women and children.

AMREF has been working in Lamu to improve maternal, new born and child health.

Bernard Kimani, AMREF’s Project Assistant in Lamu says there is an urgent need for increased health care services and food relief distribution to prevent increased hunger and disease.

Under AMREF’S drought response initiative, approximately 18,000 children and 25,000 women will have increased access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and food relief.

Please support AMREF’s work today.

 

 August 12, 2011

Emergency Medical Outreach in Turkana

AMREF has officially launched its drought response in Kenya with a medical camp in Turkana District, one of the regions worst affected by the drought. 

Hundreds of people, men and women, young and old, their faces and bodies telling the story of hardship and hunger, turned up at the Loitanik Primary School in Kaikor division, eager for medical attention – and food.

“AMREF has been working with the Turkana community for the last 50 years,” said AMREF Director General Dr Teguest Guerma who was at the medical camp. “I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the people of Turkana as a result of drought and hunger. By launching our official activities here, we are showing our solidarity and concern for them.”

Dr Guerma led AMREF staff, volunteers and government health workers in giving out therapeutic food to children, pregnant and lactating mothers and the elderly. The food contains crucial micronutrients and does not need cooking. Two hundred bags of maize and beans from the district store were also given out.

Men, women and children were screened and treated for disease and nutrition-related illnesses. They also received water treatment tablets and were shown how to use minimal amounts of water to ensure basic hygiene, and thus prevent water-related diseases.

“It is important to ensure hygiene because eye infections and diarrheal diseases like cholera can easily break out when there is a shortage of water. Disease will only weaken the people more and we must prevent that,” said Dr Guerma.
Dr. Guerma emphasized AMREF is doing all it can to stop the suffering of people living in areas where AMREF already works. 

“AMREF is a health development organisation that seeks long-term solutions to health challenges, but development work cannot progress when people are hungry,” she says.  “I promise that AMREF is doing our very best to find long-term solutions in Turkana so people do not find themselves in such a bad situation again.”

AMREF will continue running the medical camp to reach as many people as possible.

While the official launch of the camp was yesterday, AMREF’s activities to mitigate the immediate and medium-term effects of the ongoing drought in the Horn of Africa have already begun in affected parts of the country, including Makueni, Kitui, Kajiado, Loitokitok, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Matinyani, Mutitu, Magadi, Malindi, Kilifi, Lamu, Wajir, and in the informal urban settlements of Kibera and Dagoretti in Nairobi.

“Our focus is to save lives. We are grateful to all the donors who have given us money to do this work. We will use the money coming in for drought-related activities in the most effective way possible to benefit the communities, and we will account for every dollar and shilling,” says AMREF’s Kenya Country Director Dr. Lennie Kyomuhangi.

A special thank you to partner organization Humedica and the generous funds raised through German organization Sternstunden.

Please make a DONATION and help communities impacted by the drought in Kenya. 

 August 2, 2011

Wajir County in northern Kenya is one of the regions hit hardest by the ongoing drought in the Horn of Africa, with a total of 205,265 people in dire need of food.

Recently AMREF in Kenya’s Country Director Dr. Lennie Bazira travelled to Wajir to assess the situation and determine how AMREF can best help. Watch an interview with Dr. Bazira below and please make a DONATION to help these communities.

July 23, 2011

AMREF is mobilizing efforts to tackle the wide-spread famine the Horn of Africa is currently facing. The UN estimates 10 million people are being affected by the crisis – one of the largest humanitarian crises in the last 60 years.  

Kenya

The situation in the arid north and eastern regions of Kenya have reached emergency crisis level, while marginal parts of the south-eastern and coastal regions are faced with severe food shortages which are affecting close to 3.5 million people.

Soaring inflation has also left large numbers of people in Kenya’s informal urban settlements unable to buy food.

Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in northern Kenya are housing close to 500,000 Somalis, and the numbers keep swelling as 1,500 refugees (according to Government estimates) cross the border daily to escape the famine and insecurity in their country.

Ethiopia

So far, 4 million people in Ethiopia are in need of food relief, mostly in the Somali, Tigray, Oromia and Amhara regions.

Women and Children Most Vulnerable

The famine is leading to malnutrition, impoverishment and loss of life. AMREF is also concerned about the effects of the famine on already vulnerable populations. Children and pregnant women are highly susceptible to malnutrition and diarrhoea, for which medical care is critical. People living with HIV and TB need nutritional support if their treatment is to be effective. As people migrate to escape the famine and move away from their regular health facilities, they are likely to default on treatment for HIV and TB and increased crowding in refugee camps increases the risk of spread of TB and other infectious diseases.

Children are dropping out of school to join their parents in the search for food; girls are often the first to leave the classroom and easily enter into sexual liaisons or early marriages for survival, reversing gains made in reproductive health education.

We have already stepped up activities to increase access to clean water and sanitation facilities for communities affected by the famine in order to prevent outbreak of diseases like cholera and diarrhoea, which would only add to the suffering.  AMREF medical outreach teams are also focusing on treatment of malnutrition and diarrhoea in refugee camps in northern Kenya.

AMREF cannot do this alone.

Please support AMREF today.

Contact Us

AMREF Canada 
489 College Street West, Unit 407
Toronto ON
M6G 1A5 

Join us on the first Wednesday of every month.

Back by popular demand, AMREF reinstates our Coffeehouse Speaker Series on global development, hosted by Urbana Coffee.

Learn more.

People across Canada are getting involved by organizing and participating in AMREF's events. Please join them and help change the face of Africa, one community at a time.

Working with People with Disabilities in Development

Special Date: Wednesday, February 8th at 6:00pm at Urbana Coffee, 1033 Bay St.

Join AMREF and CBM (Christian Blind Mission) as we present a panel of local experts who will share their experiences with disability-inclusive policies. The panel will discuss some of the obstacles to implementing inclusive programs, how organizations are overcoming them, and whether inclusive policy is scalable across all development programs.

CBM Canada, formerly Christian Blind Mission,  is a major international Christian development organisation focused on disabilities in the poorest countries of the world, and advocates for inclusion in international policy-making bodies. It has over 100 years of professional expertise, addressing poverty as a cause and a consequence of disability.  Together with 654 partner organisations, CBM is active in more than 740 projects in 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, currently reaching more than 25 million people.  The emphasis of CBM's work is on local capacity development to increase service delivery in healthcare, education, rehabilitation and livelihood, as well as developing partner organisations.

CBM is a collaborative agency of the World Health Organization and has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

CBM was the main development organization that assisted in developing the recent WHO and World Bank Report on Disability.

Panelist Yin Brown is the Advocacy Coordinator at CBM Canada.  Being sight impaired herself, she is passionate about raising awareness of the needs of people with disabilities in the world's poorest countries.  Her mandate is to build government relations, network with NGOs to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in their work, and to build alliances with like-minded CSOs to have a united voice in advocating our federal government for a disability inclusive Canadian development policy.

Shirin Kiani is an occupational therapist with global health training. She has worked with persons with disabilities for the last 9 years, of which, the last 4 have been in developing countries such as Cameroon, Nepal, Haiti and Sri Lanka. Most of her work has been with Handicap International, one of the leading NGOs addressing Disability and Poverty globally, and present in over 60 developing countries. Presently Shirin is working for the Technical department of Handicap International helping develop training materials to be tested and used by field partners in developing countries. She has done research with women with disabilities in Cameroon and worked on a variety of different projects involving the empowerment of persons with disabilities in developing and post-emergency contexts.

Caroline Abbotts is an advocate for and ally of persons with disabilities. She is a graduate of Humber College’s International Project Management Post-Graduate program. Her interest in holistic approaches to rehabilitation was solidified through a five-month internship with the Higher Council for Affairs of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan, where she worked with the local women’s groups to strengthen their programming objectives and write funding proposals. She now passionately supports Transforming Faces by assisting in the administration of our office activities.

Dana Corfield is the founder and Executive Director of Equip KIDS International. As such, she has spent over a decade working and living in Peru, where she worked directly with children with disabilities and their families, while also supporting other organizations in their efforts to include and support children with disabilities within their programs. She is also currently a graduate student in York University’s Critical Disability Studies program. 

Anne-Marie Kamanye
Executive Director

Anne-Marie previously worked for War Child Canada, where she was the Manager of International Programmes. She has 6 years experience in International Project Management with a focus on project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and needs assessments. She has a long-standing interest in public health.

Born and raised in Uganda, Anne-Marie has worked in and traveled to several African countries, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. As AMREF Canada's former Director of Internatonal Programs, Anne-Marie was responsible for fund development, project management and public awareness.

In August of 2007, Anne-Marie was awarded the African Canadian Woman Achievement Award by the Endless Possibilities and Hope Development Organization.

Rachel Lancaster
Director of Marketing and Fundraising

Rachel comes to AMREF with 15 years of experience in brand advertising and direct marketing, and is delighted to be contributing the skills she’s developed over the course of her career working with large corporations and not-for-profit organizations in Canada and the United States. Her most recent experience includes working with RBC Royal Bank where she led the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns and sponsorships for RBC Visa and MasterCard.

Prior to her years at RBC, Rachel worked with several top tier branding and direct marketing firms in Toronto including Wunderman Cato Johnson, FCB Direct and Scott Thornley + Company; developing brands and executing  direct marketing campaigns for Plan Canada, Dignitas International , The National Ballet School, Columbia University, The Ontario Association of Health Centres and CIBC. Rachel holds a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

Rachel is responsible for overall fundraising activities, brand awareness, direct marketing, telemarketing and events for AMREF.

With a father who is a doctor living in Lagos, Nigeria and a mother with a long history of working in the not-for-profit sector, Rachel came by her love of Africa and passion for development at an early age. Rachel now lives in Toronto with her husband and two boys.

Todd Carmichael
Director of Programmes

Todd joined AMREF in October 2011, bringing with him more than 6 years experience working in the international development and humanitarian sector and several years of project management experience in the private sector. Originally educated as a geological engineer, he returned to school to pursue a professional focus in international development after working as a field geophysicist (which included field work in Canada, the United States, Brazil and Mali).

Since completing the post-graduate program in International Project Management at Humber College, Todd has worked with a variety of development organizations that have included Community-Based Organizations, Canadian and International Non-Governmental Organizations as well as a period with the United Nations Office for Project Services. He has worked in several countries including Ethiopia, Mali, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Sri Lanka.

Todd joins AMREF after several years working with the NGO Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, where he was most recently serving in the role of Program Director. He has also previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Council of International Cooperation.

Todd is responsible for managing AMREF Canada’s overall programme portfolio, overseeing project reporting for AMREF’s donors and partners, identifying and developing new programme initiatives and promoting key advocacy messaging.

Jennifer Foulds 
Communications and Public Relations Director

Jennifer joined AMREF in February 2012, bringing more than a decade of experience in directing communications and public relations programs in the non-profit sector. Jennifer oversees AMREF’s external communications, including website, social media, newsletters and media relations.

Before joining AMREF, Jennifer was Communications Director and Operations Director at Environmental Defence, a national environmental group. She previously worked in international development as the Public Relations Specialist for Plan Canada. Jennifer started her career as a journalist working for CBC Radio.

Liz Doyle
Operations and Donor Relations Manager

Liz joined AMREF in July 2006 as the Database Manager & Administration Assistant.

Previous to her joining AMREF Canada, Liz worked for War Child Canada, where she was the Director of Marketing & Promotions, and was responsible for the production and distribution of documentaries, benefit music cd's, on-line merchandise, promotional materials, third party contracts and events.

Prior to her work with War Child Canada, Liz worked for Universal Music Canada for 15 years as the Director of Electronic Media. She was responsible for the marketing and publicity of Universal Music Group's artists/musicians on television. This included all advertising, promotional campaigns, videos, performances & interviews.

Currently, Liz manages the day to day operations at AMREF, including accounts receivable & payables, donor reports and donations. Liz also sits on the Marketplace Gala committee.

Kate Giesbrecht
Programme Coordinator

Kate is a graduate of Humber College’s International Development post-graduate certificate in international project management and holds a B.A. from Université Laval in Québec City in linguistics and cultural anthropology.

Kate joined AMREF Canada’s team after completing a 6-month internship with AMREF in Ethiopia where she was responsible for the development of a medical anthropology research project aiming to gather information about how cultural practices can influence community health in southern Ethiopia.  Kate has done contractual work with Plan Canada and worked in the Winnipeg public school system as an educational assistant for children with special needs.

Kate supports the Director of Programmes in seeking funding for, managing and reporting on AMREF Canada's projects in the field. 

Sean Power
Online Public Engagement Coordinator (part-time)

Sean is AMREF Canada’s Online Public Engagement Coordinator. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario in London graduating with an honours bachelor of arts in history and he holds a Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management from Humber College in Toronto.

At AMREF, Sean is responsible for building awareness about African health development in Canada by growing AMREF’s online presence. He works on AMREF Canada’s digital activities, focusing on web analytics, social media, and community-building opportunities.

Glenda Opsahl
Finance Manager

Glenda joined AMREF as Finance Manager in September 2009. 

Welcome to our online press kit. 

Browse the webpages on the left to learn more about AMREF.

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Jennifer Foulds
Communications and Public Relations Director
jfoulds@amrefcanada.org
tel: (416) 961-6981
cell: (647) 771-5815

489 College Street West, Unit 407
Toronto Ontario
M6G 1A5
(416) 961-6981 

Fact Sheets and Media Backgrounders (PDF format)

Together... We are Making a Healthier Africa

Once a year, AMREF hosts an incredible night called the African Marketplace Gala, where Africa comes to life before your eyes!

This year's event was a huge success thanks to all of our corporate sponsors, donors, guests, volunteers, culinary sponsors, auction donors and our incredible speakers!

See photos from the 2009 Marketplace! 

The evening featured African sights and sounds including the captivating music of Adam Solomon + Tikisa and the Mujejeje Marimba Band, delicious African themed cuisine and one-of-a-kind silent and live auctions. A big thanks to emcee Lotte Davis, special guest Blanche Pitt and our special guest speaker for the evening, Brian Stewart.

If you were not able to join us but would like to support AMREF, you can still donate to AMREF and make a difference for people across Africa. 

Asante Sana to our Sponsers!

Gold 

Silver

 

Join us on the first Wednesday of every month.

Back by popular demand, AMREF reinstates our Coffeehouse Speaker Series on global development, hosted by Urbana Coffee.

AMREF’s Coffeehouse Speaker Series on global development is a series of interactive forums where dynamic and engaging speakers active in international development share their experiences and knowledge on issues that are timely and relevant on the world stage.

We invite you to join us on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM at Urbana Coffee, located at 1033 Bay St.

Working with People with Disabilities in Development

Special Date: Wednesday, February 8th at 6:00pm at Urbana Coffee, 1033 Bay St.

Join AMREF and CBM (Christian Blind Mission) as we present a panel of local experts who will share their experiences with disability-inclusive policies. The panel will discuss some of the obstacles some of the obstacles to implementing inclusive programs, how organizations are overcoming them, and whether inclusive policy is scalable across all development programs.

Location:
Urbana Coffee
1033 Bay St.

For more information click here:
AMREF's Coffeehouse Speaker Series on global development. Join us at Urbana Coffee on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00pm.

Join the conversation about working with people with disabilities in development on Facebook.

Please visit our Facebook group for more information.

AMREF Canada is pleased to announce the approval of the Building Capacity of Community Health Workers program by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Through this three year program AMREF will train more than 2,000 community and skilled health workers in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda improving health for 500,000 people, primarily women and children.

This is the largest program AMREF in Canada has ever implemented.

Today Africa is home to 25% of the global disease burden and only 3% of the global health workforce – the need to rapidly increase the number of African health providers is urgent.

Community Health Workers provide basic health care and education in areas where there is often no access to formal health care. They receive basic medical training including treating mothers and babies with malaria, helping tuberculosis (TB) patients take their treatment correctly and educating communities on HIV prevention. With this life saving knowledge, basic equipment and medicine, they are able to diagnose and treat people within minutes from their home.

The total project budget for the Building Capacity of Community Health Workers program is $3.1 million.

CIDA has generously committed $2.3 million. Now we are depending on you, our generous donors, to support the rest.

We’re half way there!

So far, AMREF Canada has secured $350,000 towards the implementation of the program. Please help us reach the remainder of our goal by making a donation today.

To make your donation please click on the Donate Button and request that your gift is designated to the Building Capacity of Community Health Workers program in the first drop down menu.

You can also contact the AMREF Canada office at;

1-888-318-4442 (toll free)
1-416-961-6981
info@amrefcanada.org

489 College Street W. Toronto ON

M6G 1A5

Thank you for your continued support. Your generous donation will have a huge impact bringing better health care to those who need it most.

Yes I Will Support Better Health in Africa!

Thank you for choosing to support AMREF’s work empowering communities towards better health!

DONATE NOW 

You can make a single donation or join AMREF Canada’s Health for Africa Monthly Giving Plan.

Donate online: 
Donate Now.

Donate by phone:
416-961-6981 or toll free 1-888-318-4442.

Donate by mail:
With a cheque or money order (please do not mail cash). Please include this donation form. 

AMREF Canada 
489 College Street, Suite 407 
Toronto, ON 
M6G 1A5 

AMREF is a registered charity and your donations are fully tax-deductible.

Questions?
Read our FAQs page or please contact us by phone or e-mail: info@amrefcanada.org

The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) has announced, with deep shock and sorrow, the death of Dr Alemayehu Seifu, AMREF Country Director for South Sudan. 

Dr Alemayehu, 46, was shot dead by unknown assailants on Saturday, January 14, at the gate of his house in Malakia area, on the outskirts of the capital city, Juba. The assailants made off with his car and other personal belongings. The government of South Sudan immediately launched an investigation into the incident. The vehicle Dr Seifu was driving was found on the Yambio-Juba road on Sunday afternoon with one occupant, who was arrested by police.

AMREF staff and Board members were informed of Dr Seifu’s death by the organisation’s Director General, Dr. Teguest Guerma. “This is a very sad moment for the entire AMREF family and we stand in solidarity with Alemayehu's family and AMREF South Sudan staff during this very difficult moment,” she said. “We are working with the government of South Sudan on the matter to handle the situation and will keep you informed as we receive more information.”

Dr. Guerma has assured AMREF staff in South Sudan that AMREF will continue in its efforts to strengthen security measures for them and all AMREF employees working in other countries.

Dr. Seifu was appointed AMREF Country Director in South Sudan in January 2011, after serving as Deputy Country Director in Ethiopia, a position he held since September 2007.

Prior to joining AMREF, Dr Seifu, a medical doctor who held a Masters Degree in Public Health, worked in Ethiopia with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as Regional Surveillance Coordinator, CARE International and Amhara Regional Health Bureau. He is survived by a widow, Mrs Amsalework Tesfaye Seifu, a son Samuel Alemayehu, 15, and a daughter Betlehame Alemayehu, 12.

Messages of condolence have been pouring in from all over the world from colleagues and friends who knew and worked with Dr. Seifu. In South Sudan, the Ministers of Health both at State and Republic level visited AMREF staff and conveyed their condolences. Other messages of condolence were received from the South Sudanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information.

Dr. Seifu’s body was flown to Ethiopia on Sunday evening for burial on Monday at his home 100km from Addis Ababa. AMREF was represented at the burial on Monday by Ms Mette Kjaer, Head of Programme Management, and AMREF South Sudan Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mr. Arizi Primo.

“This is a very difficult time for us all in AMREF and I thank everybody for the solidarity you have shown,” said Dr Guerma.

Your support will help AMREF ensure mothers in Africa have access to adequate healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. This medical care is crucial for safe deliveries and will give mothers and their babies a fighting chance at a healthy future. PLEASE DONATE NOW.

Make your gift online through our secure CanadaHelps portal, or over the phone at 416-961-6981.