The aim of the Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Service is to deliver essential medical care at no cost to remote villages in the Simien Mountains.  A qualified Ethiopian nurse with medical equipment and supplies will travel from village to village giving general medical care, providing health education and teaching basic first aid, as well as referring patients to specialists in the nearest hospital and providing follow up care.   

THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS

The Simien Mountains in the Amhara Region of northen Ethiopia are a designated World Heritage Site.  They are an exotic combination of unique wildlife and breath-taking views. Gentle highland ridges, covered with grasses, isolated trees and giant Lobelia rise to an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea level.  Surrounding the high plateaus are precipitous cliffs and deep canyon style gorges reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in the United States.

THE  PROBLEM

Although there is an old unpaved road built by the Italians to the west of the park and a new Chinese road currently under construction to the south, the interior is still only accessable by foot or a trusty mule.  Normally this means it can be up to  a 2 day round trip to a clinic, which many people are reluctant to use for various reasons. Consequently, without first aid many treatable conditions may become life threatening.  In the worst case, as we witnessed, a person who could no longer make the long ardeous journey through the mountains died for lack of antibiotics and basic medical care.

SIMIEN MOUNTAIN MOBILE MEDICAL SERVICES' SOLUTION 

By operating a mobile medical service directly into the villages it is hoped to significantly improve the health and well being of the people of the Simien Mountains.  Our charity will provide a fully qualified Ethiopian nurse with a mule carrying medical supplies and equipment needed to administer medical aid, provide health education and teach first aid. 

Our plan is to deploy a network of mobile medical teams to the most needy areas in the Simien Mountains as resources will allow.   

The mobile nurse and  a person from each village will have a mobile phones to keep in touch in case of an emergency or medical advice is required.

Nurse Hawlte Abeyu Eiigu conducting public health talk in Arkwasiye village