Working with Nomadic Populations
Nomadic communites live in some of the harshest and most isolated areas in Africa.
They are often beyond the reach of any public services.
They move around in search of pasture for their livestock, central to their livelihoods and the basis of their culture.
Rather than encouraging nomads to stay in one place, AMREF develops innovative solutions to adapt to their traditional lifestyles. We train community health workers among the nomadic groups and provide mobile health clinics along the migratory routes.
They often have low literacy rates due to lack of educational facilities and cultural traditions. Taking this into account, AMREF uses picture-led health education materials. We also make sure that these materials are culturally specific and will be relevant for the people they are intended to serve.
Livestock is of paramount importance to nomadic communities, so AMREF ensures that water is provided for both human beings and animals.
Projects and Stories
Our Work Mobile Health Care for Kenya's Nomadic Peoples
AMREF continues its innovative work with nomadic peoples in East Africa, training health workers among their communities and establishing new mobile health clinics on their traditional migratory routes. Our work in these inhospitable regions of Ethiopia and Kenya has become increasingly urgent as drought and cattle-raiding make traditional ways of life more difficult.
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