12th August, 2011
AMREF: Providing support for communities affected by the drought
AMREF has officially launched its drought response in Turkana, an area of north-western Kenya deeply affected by the drought. AMREF set up a medical camp there at a local primary school, where hundreds of people arrived eager for medical attention and support.
Dr Guerma, AMREF's Director General, led AMREF staff, volunteers and government health workers, in giving out therapeutic food to children, pregnant women, mothers and the elderly. The food, which contains crucial micronutrients and does not need cooking, was provided by AMREF and Humedica with funds raised through German organisation Sternstunden.
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.
"Eye infections and diarrhoeral 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
While the official launch was held this week, activities to mitigate the immediate effects of the drought have already begun. In many of the places where AMREF works, clean and safe sources of water have been provided, which have greatly reduced diseases and also sustained livelihoods such as agriculture and livestock breeding.
AMREF's response to the drought
- Running medical camps along the migratory route used by the Turkana people in order to reach as many people as possible
- Providing safe water and sanitation, and medical care
- Using established structures on the ground, AMREF will partner with organisations that are distributing food to ensure that as many families as possible are reached.
Find out more about AMREF's response to the drought
Help support drought-stricken communities by donating to our Horn of Africa Emergency Appeal