AVI supporting African pastoralist communities
17 January 2012
Over 38 years ago, Australian nurse Val Browning travelled to Africa to work. The decision saw her marry local Afar man Ismael Ali Gardo, and with him, establish APDA, an organisation that is responding to the issues of the Afar community in the areas of health, education and sustainable livelihoods.
While the Afar community, nomadic pastoralist people of Ethiopia, respond to the challenges of a volcanic eruption and the Daddah (the winter rains of December), local organisation the Afar Pastoralist Development Association is seeing positive developments in their commitment to improving issues around maternal and child health.
"Most recently it is has been rewarding to see the Afar women beginning to really taste the benefit of our new emergency obstetrics hospital in the Afar region's Mille district. From the cry of first little baby ‘Barbara’ in September, the hospital is now offering the full service with operation-room facility thanks to the work of a range of medical volunteers.
"Through the support of volunteers, the local staff are on a fast-learning curve and are doing very well – we can certainly dream that Afar people will manage this hospital into the future."
- Val Browning
As part of a new partnership with Anglicord, AVI will be working to provide further support for the work of APDA.
Through the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme, an AusAID initiative, Anglicord is working with APDA in Ethiopia and the Mother's Union in Kenya to respond to the needs of the nomadic pastoralist communities, the Maasai and Samburu in Kenya and the Afar in Ethiopia, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health.
Anglicord has established a partnership with The Nossal Institute for Global Health and AVI to provide ongoing support for their work in Africa.
Find out more
Read more about the project at the Anglicord website