Yesterday, the Italian NGO Medici con l’Africa Cuamm launched a significant intervention in the Shire district of Tigray to address the urgent health needs of a population severely affected by conflict; the objective is the strengthening of the services provided by Shire Hospital, serving 2 million people, and five surrounding health centers. The rehabilitation of the referral system, strongly damaged by the conflict, will be one of the main project results.
The Italian Ambassador, Agostino Palese, attended the launching together with the President of the regional interim administration, Getachew Reda, the Head of the Addis Ababa Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Isabella Lucaferri, the Head of the Regional Health Bureau, Shire hospital Medical Director and the zonal authorities.
AICS supports this initiative carried out in collaboration with the Regional Health Bureau and the zonal local authorities and implemented also by VIS Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo.
The Italian Development Cooperation is committed to strengthening the health system in Tigray, restoring its capacities and resilience for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable communities in the country; the Italian Cooperation will support medical staff training, enhance emergency referral services, and provide essential assistance, including psychological care and treatment for acute malnutrition in displaced communities.
Furthermore, AICS will also support CUAMM in improving the quality of care in the maternity and neonatology departments of Shire hospital and Black Lion hospital (Addis Abeba) by sustainably improving infrastructure, equipment, and strengthening national specialist expertise.
“The Italian Development Cooperation once again testifies to its commitment to the most vulnerable groups through concrete interventions such as infrastructural rehabilitation and staff training, all to promote access to and quality of care, fundamental rights of every person,” added Isabella Lucaferri, Head AICS Addis Ababa.
