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A Healthier Population in the East Africa Region Achieved through African Leadership
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are among the poorest in the world, with extremely high rates of infant, child and maternal mortality. Malaria and TB are rampant killers. Many women in the region bear up to six children and few have access to family planning services. Over 6 million adults and 600,000 children in the region are living with HIV/AIDS and millions of children have become orphans due to HIV/AIDS. The severity of health threats, the inadequacies of overburdened public health care systems and the inability of struggling economies to cope with the burden make it difficult for governments in the region to deal with the challenges.
11 January 2013
In Burundi, USAID/EA supports the distribution of ‘life-cycle beads’ to internally displaced women. The beads allow women to track their menstrual cycles and plan for...
13 February 2012
With support from USAID, the African Network for the Care of Children Affected by AIDS (ANECCA) recently launched its newly revised “Handbook on Pediatric AIDS...
17 October 2011
Uganda ranks 16th of 22 global high-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries and in 2009 had approximately 42,178 new TB cases and 9,400 TB deaths. And Uganda...
19 September 2011 | 9/19/2011
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3 August 2011
The term gender-based violence (GBV) is used to distinguish violence that targets individuals or groups of individuals on the basis of their gender...
26 July 2011 | Nairobi
Family planning experts representing 13 African countries have gathered in Nairobi to share promising family planning practices that generate community ownership and expand outreach with...
8 September 2011
Child Sexual Abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa
25 March 2010
With support from USAID/East Africa, the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) based at Makerere University, conducted a five-day training course on improving...
24 March 2010
World TB Day 2010 is focused on individuals around the world who have found new ways to stop TB and can serve as an inspiration...
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15 February 2008 | Kirundo, Burundi
7 December 2011 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The African Network for the Care of Children Affected by AIDS (ANECCA) launched its newly revised “Handbook on Pediatric AIDS in Africa” at a satellite...
18 October 2011 | Kampala, Uganda
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Nairobi-based East Africa Regional Mission celebrated 50 years of improved global health today during a ceremony in...
6 April 2011 | Washington,DC
USAID’S World Health Day Press Statement
12 August 2010
A four-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today to improve access to health care services along the Djibouti - Ethiopia transport corridor. The U.S....
24 November 2009
Washington , D.C. — USAID will join the global community in observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence from November...
23 October 2009
USAID/East Africa has provided two African partner organizations, the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA-HC), based in Arusha, and...
26 September 2009
Press Release from: USAID/Washington regarding: USAID Recognizes World Contraception Day , September 26, 2009
16 September 2008 | Arusha, Tanzania
On 16 September, 2008, the Government of the United States (US), through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a one-year grant agreement for...
9 March 2007 | Washington, D.C.
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30 January 2007 | Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi , 30 January 2007 - In order to combat Rift Valley Fever, the United States is donating a second shipment...
By working with African partners, USAID/East Africa is helping to alleviate health challenges in 12 countries in the region. USAID East Africa’s Regional Health and HIV/AIDS programs complement bilateral programs through their focus on reaching vulnerable and underserved populations, particularly in fragile and conflict-prone regions, as well as populations at border sites and along the transport corridors where communicable diseases are easily spread. USAID/East Africa responds to requests for technical assistance and works with USAID Bilateral Missions and Ministries of Health to help set regional health priorities.
USAID/East Africa implements activities in collaboration with two African-led regional institutions: the East, Central & Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA) in Arusha, Tanzania, and the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Through USAID support, these institutions are building African technical capacity to improve service quality, providing training on key health issues, sharing best practices across borders, and improving the policy environment in five technical areas: HIV/AIDS, improved nutrition in line with the Presidential Feed the Future and Global Health Initiatives, tuberculosis, maternal and child health and family planning/reproductive health.
Combating gender based violence, improving access to reproductive health services, and vaccinating children against potentially fatal communicable diseases are other areas in which USAID/East Africa provides assistance.
USAID/East Africa also supports a regional SafeTStop program, designed to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS, improve care and reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS along major transport corridors in East Africa. This program reaches the most-at-risk: truckers and host communities in stopover towns and worksites.
Working in collaboration with bilateral and other partners, millions of vulnerable people are receiving prevention, care, treatment and support services. USAID/East Africa continues to help develop concrete ways to reduce the burden of health care and improve the health status of people in the region.
A2Z Project: Improving Regional Food Fortification
Feed the Future
Health Insurance Fund (HIF)
Regional Outreach Addressing HIV/AIDS through Development Strategies (ROADS) Project
Responding to Emergencies: Community-based RH/FP for Populations Affected by Crises
Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems
TB CARE
The Partnership for Health Networks - East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC)
The Partnership for Health Networks - Improving Quality of Health Care
ANECCA Handbook on Paediatric AIDS in Africa, 2nd Edition 2011 Child Sexual Abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa Strengthening Agricultural Technologies among People Living with HIV: Lessons Learned in the Border Towns of Busia, Kenya and Busia, Uganda, October 2008 - FANTA Gender-Based Violence Strategic Framework 17 Sep 2007 [pdf, 1517 KB]
Strengthening Agricultural Technologies among People Living with HIV: Lessons Learned in the Border Towns of Busia, Kenya and Busia, Uganda, October 2008 - FANTA
Gender-Based Violence Strategic Framework 17 Sep 2007 [pdf, 1517 KB]
Launch of ANNECA - a new Handbook on Paediatric AIDS in Africa
Dr. Nathan Tumwesigye, Chair, African Network for the Care of Children Affected by AIDS, describes the regional impact of a one- of- a- kind Pediatric Aids Manual that was produced with USAID EA's support and that will soon go in to a second printing because of high demand and use.
Photo: Kintu B. Zirimu
Cutting the ceremonial 50th cake during USAID EA's celebration of USAID's 50th Anniversary.
Larry Meserve USAID EA Regional Mission Director speaks during the celebration of USAID's 50th Anniversary in Uganda October 18, 2011.
Guests at USAID/EA's 50th celebration were entertained by the Crane Performers who danced and drummed to the regional beat.
Dr. Josephine Kibaru-Mbae, Director General of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community helps cut ceremonial USAID 50th Anniversary cake in Uganda with USAID EA Regional Mission Director Larry Meserve, USAID/EA Regional Health Office Director Julia Henn, Jim Heiby from USAID's Global Health Bureau in Washington, DC along with Shirley Erves, Master of Ceremonies for USAID's 50th celebration.
Dorothy Namuchimba, Manager, Food Security and Nutrition with ECSA, presents best practices on USAID's support to fortify foods in the region.
Dr. Odongo Odiyo, Manager, Family and Reproductive Health Programs, East, Central, Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA) presents best practices during USAID EA's celebration of USAID's 50th Anniversary.
Photo: USAID/EA
One country's vote for birth spacing.
An active effort to share materials and learn.
Participants from Malawi promoted their work with youth.
Updates from the Regional Center for the Quality of Health Care (RCQHC).
Each country attending the conference had materials to share.
A press conference was held after the opening with, left to right: Dr. Isaak Bashir, Director of Reproductive, Kenya Ministry of Health and Sanitation; Scott Radloff, Director, USAID/Washington, Office of Population and Reproductive Health; Dr. Edward Sambili, Permanent Secretary, Kenya Ministry of Planning; and Dr. Boniface K'Oyugi, CEO of National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development, Kenya Ministry of Planning.
Sharing information from Republic of South Sudan
USAID supports culturally sensitive family planning
Photo: ECSA
Left to right: Ugandan Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Stephen Malinga; Director of Social Transformation Programmes, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, Dr. Sylvia Anie; and Zimbabwean Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Hon. Dr. Henry Madzorera.
Photo: ECSACON
A demonstration of neonatal resuscitation using the Helping Babies Breathe training package.
USAID/East Africa’s Regional Director, Larry Meserve, left, and the Director General of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), Josephine Kibaru-Mbae, right during the signing ceremony.
Photo: FHI
A Bukavu business mentor guiding youth entrepreneurs in business planning.
"Family Day" is a community event organized monthly by a "cluster" of low-income women. Through events such as this they increase awareness of gender-based violence and generate demand for health services.
Robert Clay Director, Office of HIV/AIDS, USAID/Washington.
Photo: USAID/Rwanda
Participants reviewing Kenya's Accelerating Family Planning Action Plan.
A participant raises a question during the discussion on prioritizing child health interventions.
Photo: ECSA-HC
Left to right: Kenyan Health Minister, Hon. Beth Mugo; First Deputy Prime Minister Uganda, Hon. Eriya Kategaya; Director General of ESCA Health Community, Hellen Lugina at the ECSA Health Ministers’ conference in Kampala, Uganda.
J. Scott Gration (center), President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan, at the SafeTStop Recreation and HIV Resource Center.
Photo: Family Health International
Eri silk worms feeding on Castor plant.
Photo: USAID/East Africa
Winners of the 2009 AfriComNet Awards for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa.
Photo: James Watiti, ECSA–HC
Dr. Steven Shongwe, Director General, ECSA–HC (left) and Mr. Lawrence Meserve, Deputy Director USAID/East Africa (right) signing the grant agreement.
Photo: 2005 Helen Dombalis, Courtesy of Photoshare
Photo: 2007 Mary Atieno Otieno/Rural-Kenya World Cultural
Photo: 2005 Virginia Lamprecht, Courtesy of Photoshare
Photo: Andrew Haugen, Courtesy of Photoshare
Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the Context of HIV
Postcards from the Road - March 6, 2008
Photo: Robert Ritzenthaler
Photo: Sunflag
Staff inspect the four sets of washers and dryers with chemical feed systems in Sunflag’s Arusha factory.
Girl Guide leaders work on a food groups exercise during a Training of Teachers activity for the Anemia Prevention Badge.
The People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA)cluster in Busia, Kenya, holds its weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to discuss substance abuse and other issues, including HIV and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
Members of the Malaba People Living with HIV/AIDS Cluster pose with maize seeds donated by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry provided one ton of certified seeds to complement agricultural training at LifeWorks Shamba.
Photo: Stephanie Weber
A young musician serenades the crowd with HIV and AIDS awareness songs using local instruments.
Through an agreement with the World Health Organization, the People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) cluster in Malaba, Uganda distributes insecticide-treated nets to AIDS-affected families.
A Tanzanian medical store operator trained by Howard University/PACE Center displays SafeTStop branding to promote quality HIV services.
Photo: USAID/Janet Bland
The Magnet Theater interacts with audiences at critical points in performances. This creates an opportunity to pass on health messages and to understand the views and reactions of the audience.
Family Health International Director Gail Goodridge with some of the men and women working at the LifeWorks Shukrani Home and Accessories Facility.
Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger congratulates LifeWorks, its leaders and many partners in their innovative contribution to HIV and AIDS prevention efforts.
Mnazi sellers in Mariakani Kenya are partnering with ROADS clusters to promote HIV prevention through their work
Photo: Suzanne Seitz
Women working at the Mariakani LifeWorks Home and Fashion Unit manufacture upscale products for sale at tourist hotels and export markets in the United States and Europe.
AFTER: New incinerators built by the PECSE Project help to manage medical waste effectively.
BEFORE: Poor medical waste management.
AFTER: Through training, nurses learn to keep instruments sterile to prevent infection.
BEFORE: Before nurses were trained, medical instruments were maintained in a haphazard way.
Photo: Leslie Rose/USAID
USAID provides health care through its regional health and HIV/AIDS programs.
Photo: ANECCA
The Pediatric HIV/AIDS Handbook that is in such high demand.
ANECCA Handbook on Paediatric AIDS in Africa 2nd Edition 2011
Child Sexual Abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa, September 2011
Last updated8 Feb 2013
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