Addis Ababa – Melkamnesh Mengistu is a survivor of a conflict which claimed thousands of lives two years ago in West Guji Zone of Ethiopia.

She came very close to death when her town was attacked. The fact that she was five months pregnant at the time made her situation even worse.

“I had to flee to save my life and settle here,” she explains as to how she came to the town called Chiriku, where she currently lives. Having been displaced to the town, Melkamnesh was faced with a major challenge of finding accessible prenatal health service.

“I moved here to avoid the danger, but when I arrived, I did not know where to find a health service,” she recalls. Fortunately, the host community was cooperative enough to take her to the Chiriku Health Post run by IOM Ethiopia medical unit who followed-up on her needs.

Today, Melkamnesh is a happy mother enjoying the company of her toddler. “IOM’s health team’s care was crucial for my safe delivery. Thanks to them, my baby and I are enjoying a healthy life,” she says. After delivery, this young mother continued receiving postnatal services like vaccination for her child and family planning for herself. Melkamnesh is among the many mothers who have received medical assistance from IOM.

Over the last year alone, IOM has assisted 215,085 people with emergency health needs in Ethiopia. This assistance is still ongoing in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State’s (SNNPR) Gedeo Zone, Oromia Region’s West Guji and East Wellega Zones.

In 2018, a major conflict in West Guji Zone displaced nearly a million people with critical barriers to access health care. Often, migrants and mobile populations face many obstacles in accessing essential healthcare services due to factors such as irregular migration status, language barrier, lack of migrant-inclusive health policies, and inaccessibility of services, particularly during a displacement.

To respond to this gap, IOM Ethiopia, in partnership with government counterparts, other health partners and stakeholders on the ground, set-up a total of six Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams (MHNTs) in Oromia and SNNPR to provide direct assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs). IDPs have been provided with health services ranging from medical consultations, basic reproductive health services, nutrition screening and referral of malnourished children, as well as health education and promotion. These health services are currently ongoing to enhance capacity and promote an integrated migration health approach. 

In addition to this, IOM has also provided 11 capacity building trainings and awareness creation workshops for health workers, community leaders and volunteers. These have been implemented through on-the-job and formal training of health workers and rehabilitation/ construction of three health posts.

“Following national guidelines and in partnership with government counterparts, the use of MHNTs in hard to reach location has ensured that IDP and returnee communities of SNNPR and Oromia receive timely and adequate health care. This also ensures capacity building and health systems strengthening in affected locations for long term sustainability and impact,” Dr Nelyn Chavez, Head of the Migration Health Unit in Ethiopia said, explaining the importance to continue and expand such programmes.  

IOM also provides a variety of health promotion and assistance services for migrants and crisis-affected populations and stranded migrants.

Following the Ethiopian Government and the community’s peacebuilding initiatives, relative peace has been restored to the West Guji Zone in Ethiopia. Many displaced communities have returned to their places of origin. In this respect, IOM has continued its assistance to individuals for a safe and healthy return.

IOM was able to provide these supports through the generous support from CERF, the People of Japan and the Government of Germany.

For more information, please contact Alemayehu Seifeselassie, Tel: +251 11 6611117 (Ext. 1455), Mobile: +251 91 163 9082, Email: salemayehu@iom.int