NEW FOOD CRISIS IN ETHIOPIA

According to a study conducted by the UN and the Ethiopian government, more than eight million people in Ethiopia need food assistance, as two consecutive years of drought have affected several regions of the country.

More than 80% of the Ethiopian population works in agriculture, which continues to be the prime financial income of the country. For that reason, the always tenuous situation becomes even more complicated when there are droughts. At present, in addition to drought, there is another equally dangerous threat: meteorological agencies have warned about possible strong rains and flooding in the next weeks, which would destroy the existing harvests and worsen the situation even more.

Thirty years ago, in the 80s, Ethiopia suffered a great famine that drew world attention. Since then the country’s economy has been improving up to the point of positioning itself among the emerging economies of Africa. However, in spite of the development of schools, roads, and hospitals under the current government, which has been in power since 1990, many people continue to live in extreme poverty. They are now experiencing more and more cases of infant malnutrition. Even though the government has begun to distribute sacks of grain and wheat among the affected communities, Ethiopians are hoping, once more, for help from outside to be able to overcome this new food crisis. For our part, we will continue contributing with our Community’s projects to strengthen the health and living conditions of the rural population in the area of Meki.

WHEN BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IS FUN

The boys and girls of the Catholic School in Meki (Ethiopia) have been having fun recently with three simple things: a toothbrush, a little toothpaste and water. Three basic things that are nonetheless unattainable for the majority of children in Meki. After two classes on the theory of dental hygiene and the brushing of teeth, we gave toothbrushes to the students so that they could put into practice what they had learned.

It was a very hot afternoon, but in spite of that, the children went out to the courtyard running toward the fountain to use their brushes for the first time. With great joy, they removed the covers from the new brushes, approached us so that we could put toothpaste on the brushes and began, with smiles on their faces, to brush their teeth. “My teeth are bleeding a lot” told us Berekat, a frightened fourth grader. “I don’t want to do it... the bleeding is bad!” We calmed him by explaining to him, “It is normal to have bleeding gums if you’ve never brushed your teeth before. Brush carefully each day and you will see how the bleeding will soon stop. You shouldn’t worry about it; continue to brush daily in order to have strong and healthy teeth!”

Teaching fundamental knowledge and skills regarding hygiene is basic to changing bad practices and beliefs among the children. This health program, with medical attention and health education provided to the students takes place in our three schools in the Meki area, in Southern Ethiopia. We are convinced that investing in education and health is essential in the fight against poverty.

Rapid Expansion marks the Student Health Program in Ethiopia

Only in its second year, the Community of St. Paul's Student Health Program in Meki (in the Southeast of Ethiopia) has grown to serve 2,640 students. In addition to continuing the program in the Catholic School of Meki, work is now performed in the Kidane Mihret Nursery also in Meki and in St. Gabriel School of the neighboring town of Gabra Fila.

Each school has a nurse who performs medical exams and deals with these children and teenagers of all grades. In addition, for the 4th through 8th grades, 640 students have a class called Health Education, where they learn basic concepts about hygiene and health. The purpose is to teach them that they, themselves, must put into practice healthy habits and thereby exercise greater control over the conditions that threaten their well-being. Each week, these children and youth learn how to care for their health and prevent illnesses.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND WASHING: MEKI, ETHIOPIA

Dr. Gemma Regales tells us of her experience in the health and disease prevention program that she conducts with the student population of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki.

“The illnesses that we see daily, like diarrhea, intestinal parasites, skin problems, eye and respiratory infections, are the result of poor hygiene.  All of these illnesses, especially diarrhea, can be prevented by simple hand washing. There are five critical moments when we should all wash our hands:  before and after eating; after going to the bathroom; before, during and after preparing food; after touching animals; and after coughing and sneezing.”

Although in many countries, hygiene habits are regularly practiced, it is not that way where water is a scarce commodity, like in many parts of Ethiopia.  It is difficult to wash one’s hands correctly (and regularly) when one has to go all the way to far away fountain, stand in line, and carry the water on one’s head ...after the school day or after many other obligations... as in the case of mothers of families.
The health program in Meki Catholic School insists on prevention as the foremost way to have better health.  A good state of health increases the ability of school age children and adolescents to learn, decreases days absent from school due to sickness, and generates an important positive impact.  It also diminishes the cost of medical care for families, and the children influence the whole family with the new habits that they acquire from the health program.