Funding Will Support Critical Work in Refugee Camps Focused on Maternal & Child Health

(PORTLAND, OR) September 16, 2022 – Medical Teams International is grateful to the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) for its award of $3.5 million USD to support Medical Teams’ ongoing provision of comprehensive, timely medical care to refugees and host populations in Tanzania. This funding will support the third year of a three-year project in Tanzania with PRM.

Since 2017, Medical Teams has served Congolese and Burundian refugees in remote northwestern Tanzania (Kigoma region). Medical Teams currently serve approximately 218,300 refugees, asylum seekers, and host nationals in Nyarugusu and Nduta camps.

Tanzania’s overwhelmed national health system (facing understaffing, inadequate supplies, and ill-equipped facilities) contributes to poor health outcomes in these camps. The spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19 is also an issue of concern. Kigoma has some of the worst health indicators in the country, and there is an overall lack of community level health knowledge.

The 2022-2023 funding will improve outcomes in reproductive and child health, including safe deliveries at health facilities and the training of health workers. Also, it will strengthen community health systems by promoting early health-seeking behavior, with teams visiting households with health education messages. It will also strengthen the region’s referral mechanisms through coordination and transportation of patients to secondary hospitals.

Additionally, Medical Teams will improve medical supply chain management and emergency preparedness through the procurement of medicines, medical consumables, and medical equipment, as well as the training of health workers, logistics staff, and emergency response teams. Also, it will ensure the population have access to quality primary healthcare services through the provision of primary health care at a new Nduta Health Post in Kibondo district.

“We greatly appreciate PRM’s generous investment in these critically needed services for refugees and Tanzanian host communities,” said Dr. George Mwita, Medical Teams Country Director for Tanzania. “We are especially excited about the growing community involvement in the places we serve, helping to empower refugees to safeguard their own health and share their knowledge with others. In fact, Medical Teams Tanzania is an excellent model of Direct Health Service (DHS), Health Systems Strengthen (HSS) and Community Systems Strengthening (CSS), working together to impact the health of refugees and the local host communities. Saving lives and improving quality of life is our shared focus.”

About Medical Teams International

Founded in 1979, Medical Teams International provides life-saving medical care for people in crisis, such as survivors of natural disasters and refugees. We care for the whole person— physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Daring to love like Jesus, we serve all people—regardless of religion, nationality, sex or race. Learn more at medicalteams.org and on social media using @medicalteams.

#  #  #