Darfur
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur has uprooted
millions of people, disrupted fragile health care systems
and prevented families from returning to their homes
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and livelihoods.
Since 2004, International Medical Corps has worked through challenging conditions to provide essential
medical care, implement nutrition programs, restore water delivery and sanitation systems and provide
support to the Ministry of Health through health system strengthening activities. By emphasizing training in
health care delivery, we give communities the tools to move from relief towards self-reliance, and to rebuild
their futures.
International Medical Corps in Darfur:
Violence in Darfur continues to exact a terrible toll on the health of
families caught up in the crisis. In nine years of conflict, over two
million people have been displaced. International Medical Corps
has worked across challenging and uncertain environments since
the beginning of the crisis, delivering emergency healthcare while
building the foundation for long-term recovery. We reach, serve, and
train displaced and host populations to build inclusive, stable, and
successful community health services. Our programs include primary
healthcare, nutritional support, the creation of water and sanitation
infrastructure and health system strengthening.
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DARFUR
GENEINA
ZALINGEI
NYALA
UM DUKHUN
SOUTH
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International Medical Corps’ clinics see an average of 35,000
patients per month. In 2012, International Medical Corps
screened over 75,000 children for malnutrition.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
International Medical Corps is providing emergency medical relief
to over 400,000 beneficiaries annually in Darfur. Our sixteen
primary care clinics provide essential health services, including
disease treatment and prevention, reproductive health care, health
education, immunization, child health care and surveillance, and
referrals to emergency and secondary treatment. Throughout all
of our programs, we emphasize education and training, ensuring
continuity of care and helping communities to build lasting medical
systems.
NUTRITION
International Medical Corps provides nutritional support to
populations most vulnerable to hunger. At our clinics and through
home visits, our medical and community health workers screen
and treat children under five, as well as pregnant women and new
mothers, for malnutrition. International Medical Corps operates eight
outpatient therapeutic feeding programs and four supplementary
feeding programs in West and South Darfur. To prevent malnutrition
in children under 2 and pregnant and breastfeeding women,
International Medical Corps is implementing a comprehensive social
behavior change approach through Care Groups. Each Care Group
is composed of 10-15 mothers of children under 2 or pregnant and
breastfeeding women and one lead mother. Each site also has
one female community health worker who is be responsible for:
1) providing behavior change communications regarding essential
nutrition actions (exclusive breast feeding, supplementary feeding
and timing, micronutrients supplementation, etc.) and the prevention
of malnutrition and waterborne diseases; 2) demonstrating healthy
food preparation and cooking; 3) training lead mothers on essential
nutrition actions and malnutrition-related diseases. Together, these
programs help families avoid the lasting health and developmental
impacts of hunger.
MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH
CAPACITY STRENGTHENING
Caretakers and children are among the most vulnerable
populations in conflict-affected communities. International Medical
Corps provides comprehensive medical care, as well as training
and education, to support and empower this key constituency. Our
reproductive healthcare services include:
•
Family planning, including child spacing
By emphasizing education, International Medical Corps helps
communities move towards sustainability and self-reliance. Since
arriving in Darfur in 2004, we have trained hundreds of national
medical personnel, Traditional Birth Attendants, and community
leaders. These leaders go on to educate their communities on
topics that include:
•
Antenatal care and postnatal care
•
Prevention and treatment of common communicable diseases
•
Assisted deliveries and emergency obstetric care
•
Reproductive health and early childhood care
•
Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted
infections
•
Identification and management of common childhood
illnesses
Immunizations, nutritional screening and treatment, and assistance
with newborn care also help mothers give their children a healthy
start in life.
•
Nutritional screening, treatment, and prevention
In addition, International Medical Corps has piloted a non-cash
incentive approach aimed at increasing facility deliveries through
traditional birth attendants (TBAs) as referral agents. These TBAs
are trained on how to refer pregnant women to health facilities
for antenatal and postnatal care, as well as for deliveries. Based
on their performance, International Medical Corps provides noncash incentives for the TBAs, such as soap and sugar. Since
International Medical Corps started this program in July 2011, over
9,000 women have been referred to International Medical Corps’
health facilities by TBAs.
The expertise of these health care providers is crucial to integrating
health care services into the community. Additionally, their skills
provide the continuity of care needed to stabilize fragile health
systems and foster long-term recovery.
In Darfur, International Medical Corps operates sixteen basic
health centers, eight outpatient therapeutic feeding programs, four
supplementary feeding programs, and one stabilization center.
International Medical Corps’ health centers are located in West,
Central and South Darfur, and our nutrition programs are located
in South and Central Darfur. Through these facilities, International
Medical Corps sees an average of 35,000 new patients per
month. Further, water and sanitation projects in Wadi Sahel, Mukjar
and Um Dukhun prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses
and provide communities with a healthy living environment.
Additionally, International Medical Corps is supporting the Ministry
of Health through national health system strengthening activities.
International Medical Corps provides
emergency medical relief to over 400,000
beneficiaries annually in Darfur.
WATER AND SANITATION
Many communities in Darfur experience shortages in water quality
and quantity. Influxes in refugee populations frequently strain
already fragile water collection and sanitation systems in host
communities and camps. By expanding access to clean water,
creating proper waste disposal systems, and providing safe
sanitation facilities, International Medical Corps restores healthy
living conditions. Our activities include:
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Education and promotion of good hygiene practices
•
The creation of waste disposal facilities and practices
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Chlorination, rehabilitation, and maintenance of water points
•
Construction of drainage canals and latrines
Together, these programs help communities protect an essential
resource and prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.
HEALTH SYSTEMS
International Medical Corps is providing support to the Ministry of Health in order to promote a self-sufficient health care delivery system.
Health systems strengthening activities include:
• Construction, establishment of technical assistance for a District
Health Office in Um Dukhun
• Enrolling health professionals for formal training, including one
year Masters programs in Public Health/Health Management
• Strengthening of Ministry of Health capacity in Mukjar
• Conducting on-site informal training for local health staff,
including on health systems information systems, surveillance,
expanded programs on immunization, and drug management
• Sending Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Aid Commission
representatives to visit and learn from functioning district health
systems throughout sub-Saharan Africa
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
IN AFRICA
For 30 years, International Medical Corps has demonstrated
the ability to implement major relief and development programs
improving lives and strengthening local capacity through health,
education, and social programming. International Medical Corps
has responded to complex emergencies and implemented
transitional development programs in 70 countries worldwide.
For nearly three decades, International Medical Corps has worked
in the most difficult and war-torn nations in Africa. International
Medical Corps provides life-saving medical interventions in
times of war, and remains once conflict has ended to support
governments and community organizations in the transition from
relief to development.
COUNTRY Michael Yacob, Country Director
CONTACT: PHONE: +249-6912174256
[email protected]
Since its inception over 30 years ago, International
Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve
the suffering of those impacted by war, natural
disaster and disease, by delivering vital health
care services that focus on training. This approach
of helping people help themselves is critical to
returning devastated populations to self-reliance.
HEADQUARTERS Jehangir Ali Khan, Regional Coordinator
CONTACT: 1313 L. Street, NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC, 20005
PHONE: 202-828-5155 FAX: 202-828-5156
[email protected]