Midwife training in Yemen

The situation in our partner countries

The health situation in developing countries is characterised by high mortality rates - particularly for mothers and children - short life expectancy and avoidable infectious and parasite-borne illnesses. Many diseases associated with poverty are not caused by the higher risk of infection in the tropes but by poor hygiene and living conditions, insufficient food supply, barely functioning health care institutions and the lack of education.

High population growth goes hand-in-hand with under-development. High birth rates have a negative effect on the health of both mothers and children and endanger the food situation for the population as a whole in the long term, whilst also restricting economic progress. Another problem our partner countries are confronted with is the HIV/AIDS epidemic with its devastating effects in some places.

Health care systems that are oftentimes insufficient or still in the beginnings in many rural areas try to deal with all these challenges. But qualified staff is rare outside the towns and cities. Unsatisfactory salary, a lack of professional impetus and supervision as well as poor working conditions weaken the motivation to work in rural areas.

DED's contribution

DED mainly works in state health care institutions, but in some cases also within church or other non-governmental structures. The aim is to improve the overall health situation of disadvantaged social groups, both in rural areas and smaller towns. Teaching about preventative measures and health promotion is as important as helping the people to recover from disease.

Usually, the general improvement of working conditions is also part of the job of individual development workers or of the DED programme: DED works on operating procedures in health care institutions concernig water supply, waste water disposal or the construction of latrines and introduces cost sharing systems and finance management. Moreover, development workers train technicians in the maintenance of medical equipment and help to improve the infrastructure of hospitals and health centres.

In recent years, the work in the field of HIV/AIDS has become considerably more important, especially concerning the area of prevention. However, participation in the large scale introduction of antiretroviral therapy and minimisation of social consequences are also important intervention areas.

Around 15 percent of all DED development workers are active in the health care sector in a total of 12 countries. The focus lies on Africa and Asia. In Latin America health care projects became rare.

DED is involved in:

Cooperation in district hospitals and health centres

• General surgery and obstetrics
• Co-worker training
• Supervision
• Advice to regional health care administrations
• Establishment of preventive medical services
• Establishment of health information systems
• Financial planning/cost sharing
• Coordination of primary health care programmes

Health education

• Maternal and child health care
• Vaccinations
• Family planning and pregnancy counselling
• Obstetrics
• Hygiene advice

HIV/AIDS

• Introduction of business programmes into small and medium enterprices and organisations
• Incorporation of the subject into the training of teachers
• Establishment of home-based care
• Organisational development of local AIDS initiatives
• Incorporation of HIV/AIDS as an interdisciplinary subject into the work of all development workers

Other activities

• Formal training of nurses, health workers and midwives
• Improvement of drug supply
• Maintenance of medical institutions and equipment
• Renovation of hospitals and health centres

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