Based on the African Medical and Research Foundation Case Study below, African M

Question

Based on the African Medical and Research Foundation Case Study below,

African Medical and Research Foundation Case Study:

First, the story of AMREF: in 1957, three men of vision launched the Flying Doctor Service in Kenya. From this emerged the African Medical and Research Foundation, Africa’s largest indigenous health NGO. While their first two decades focused on service delivery, AMREF came to realize that episodic clinical visits were neither effective nor efficient, and that community-based approaches were vital. AMREF’s Mission today reflects this recognition: “…In creating vibrant networks of informed communities that work with empowered health workers in stronger health systems, we aim to ensure every African has access to the good health which is theirs by right.” [2, 3].

African Medical and Research Foundation became a health systems development agency for many countries. Its operations reflect disease burdens at the grassroots: malaria, HIV, school health, water, sanitation and hygiene. Its success in promoting primary health care builds on

partnerships. It finds ways to improve people’s health by examining the determinants: environment, culture, economics, micro-financing, politics, leadership and other ingredients. Supported by operational research, many AMREF initiatives become health systems models for Africa, influencing policies and practices across the continent. African Medical and Research Foundation is committed to evidence-based community health, and an example for the world. Moving from observation to one example of AMREF action: Kenya’s plains offer little water and swarms of flies, and trachoma persists among the Masaai. In traditional culture, each wife shares a one-room home with her children and newborn animals, preparing meals on a contaminated floor. To tackle this leading infectious cause of blindness, AMREF applies WHO’s “SAFE” protocol: Surgery to treat end-stage disease, Antibiotics to reduce the reservoir of infection, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvements, for example: “leaky tin technology” (a tin-can with a hole plugged by a thorn allows clean water to remain uncontaminated and used sparingly) to reduce transmission. A recent report on AMREF’s work in the Rift Valley reveals that the SAFE protocol reduced active disease within 3 years in children from 47 to 16.0%, while potentially blinding trachoma declined 4.5

to 1.7%. The proportion of faces with many flies fell over 4 years from 48 to 6%. The strategy is sustainable and has advanced eye care policy globally, boding well for WHO’s goal of elimination by 2020 (GET 2020) [4, 5].

Community Health Case Studies selected from Developing and Developed Countries – common principles for moving from evidence to action (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259042924_Community_Health_Case_Studies_selected_from_Developing_and_Developed_Countries_-_common_principles_for_moving_from_evidence_to_action

More info on AREF: http://amref.org/

Explanation / Answer

1. The African Medical and Research Foundation is an organisation aimed at providing health care services and developing health care systems in remote areas, particularly to the core and vulnerable groups of the society like women and children.

2. The social aspects coverd by Amref include promotion and implementation of neonatal and antenatal care besides providing services aimed at saving lives of maternal ladies as well as newborns.

3. Amref's aim is to provide acess and delivery of health care services to the core of the community. It promotes good health through social development and by implementing policies based on strategic thinking.

4. The Amref health care service is based on strategies so as to reach people that are at the periphery of healthcare systems. Community healthcare services as well as worksites of people were taken under the wings of the healthcare system of Amref. The existing social infrastructure is used as a platform for healthcare delivery.

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