AMREF works in northern Uganda and Southern Sudan, both areas affected by more than 20 years of conflict.
AMREF meets urgent needs in these regions but we are also take a long-term approach to improving health by working with and closely involving local communities.
Northern Uganda
In northern Uganda, the conflict between the Lords Resistance Army and the government has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of 1.5 million.
More than 20,000 children were abducted by rebel soldiers in a conflict which has terrorized the entire population. Since the Juba peace talks started in 2006, peace agreements have been signed, but the conflict is far from over.
60% of the population in northern Uganda is still internally displaced in camps where malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea are causing high levels of mortality.
Half of the region’s health centres are not functioning: almost three quarters are run by unprofessional and informal health workers.
AMREF is providing clean water for internally displaced people’s camps, improving hygiene standards and training pump mechanics. We are also training community members to vaccinate children under-five and encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated. In 2006, Gulu had the highest vaccination rate in the country at over 90%, increased from 58% when AMREF started the programme in 2003.
Southern Sudan
Emerging from 21 years of civil war, Southern Sudan, is facing a health crisis. Four million refugees are expected to return to the country, but most of the health centres have been destroyed and the majority of health workers have fled the area.
At present, less than 100 doctors and 600 nurses serve a population of over eight million people.
AMREF is training doctors, nurses, clinical officers, community midwives, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and community health workers from around the region. Once trained, they return to their communities and are often the only trained health worker for miles.
In the Terekeka county AMREF is providing basic health care and clean water to benefit of 150,000people. AMREF also runs a health centre in the town of Tali. The centre has one of the region’s only maternity clinics for new and expecting mothers, saving mothers are newborns from preventable deaths.
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