The Work of AMREF with the Masaai

The Work of AMREF with the Masaai

The Work of AMREF with the Masaai: Our first story is of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF): in 1957, three men of vision launched the Flying Doctor Service in Kenya. From this emerged the African Medical and Research Foundation, Africa’s largest indigenous health NGO. While their first two decades focused on service delivery, AMREF came to realize that episodic clinical visits were neither effective nor efficient, and that community-based approaches were vital. AMREF’s Mission today reflects this recognition: “ . . . In creating vibrant networks of informed communities that work with empowered health workers in stronger health systems, we aim to ensure every African has access to the good health which is theirs by right”

AMREF evolved from those beginnings to become a health systems development agency for many countries. Its operations reflect disease burdens at the grassroots: malaria, HIV, school health, water, sanitation and hygiene. Its success in promoting primary health care builds on partnerships. It finds ways to improve people’s health by examining the determinants: environment, culture, economics, micro-financing, politics, leadership and other ingredients. Supported by operational research, many AMREF initiatives become health systems models for Africa, influencing policies and practices across the continent. AMREF is committed to evidence-based community health: an example for the world.

Moving from its origins to an example of AMREF in action: Kenya’s plains offer little water and swarms of flies, and trachoma persists among the Masaai. In traditional culture, each wife shares a one-room home with her children and newborn animals, preparing meals on a contaminated floor. To tackle this leading infectious cause of blindness, AMREF applies WHO’s “SAFE” protocol: Surgery to treat end-stage disease, Antibiotics to reduce the reservoir of infection, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvements, for example: “leaky tin technology” (a tin-can with a hole plugged by a thorn allows clean water to remain uncontaminated and used sparingly) to reduce transmission.

A recent report on AMREF’s work in the Rift Valley reveals that the SAFE pro- tocol reduced active disease within 3 years in children from 47% to 16.0%, while potentially blinding trachoma declined 4.5% to 1.7%. The proportion of faces with many flies fell over 4 years from 48% to 6%. The strategy is sustainable and has advanced eye care policy globally, boding well for WHO’s goal of elimination by 2020 (GET 2020).

White, F., Stallones, L., & Last, J. (2013). Global public health: Ecological foundations (1st ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Please answer these questions below in 3 pages with references in APA style with introduction and conclusion.

  1. What elements of broad strategic thinking do you see demonstrated?
  2. What aspects of social development are addressed?
  3. What evidence of healthy public policy do you see?
  4. Do you see evidence of systems development for health or social policy and related programming?

What information stood out most to you from this case study that you might be able to apply in your local community

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THE CASE STUDY ON AMREF

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