The compound effects of the Tigray war that began in November 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, and a locust outbreak all contributed to an emergency food insecurity situation in the Tigray region, and the situation was particularly bad in Shire. Shire became a main center for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and humanitarian aid distribution, beginning in June 2021, following the Tigray war. Due to the conflict in northern Ethiopia, more than 1,500 health facilities were left non-functional in the Tigray region.
Shire has one general hospital and two health centers, which are partially functional, and one health center, which is not functional. Most of the health facilities in Shire town were ruined and looted during the war, and the number of health professionals who were working there significantly decreased. Before the war, there was health insurance and a proper referral system, but now, the health system structure is compromised. There is no health insurance or referral system, and health facilities lack essential medicines and medical supplies. Luckily, individuals like Aida benefit from International Medical Corps services, but there is still a high health demand in the community.
Aida is eight years old. She came to International Medical Corps’ mobile health and nutrition clinic in the on January 12, 2024, with her mother, with a complaint of shortness of breath and wheezing that she had been experiencing for about one week. She also reported coughing and chest tightness. Aida’s mother said that she had a happy life before the war broke out. However, since the war began, there has not been enough food in the house to feed her family and not enough money to get medical help for her sick child. Since her husband died during the war, Aida’s mother talked about the heavy burden she carries on her shoulders.
Upon her visit to an International Medical Corps MMU, Aida reported shortness of breath that had worsened over the past two days. She was wheezing, had chest tightness and was coughing.
“I was just sitting at home with my sick child for one week because I had no money to take her to a clinic, but once I heard about International Medical Corps, I brought her,” said Letebirhan Haile, Aida’s mother, who heard about the mobile health clinic from her neighbor. “I was afraid of losing my child, but you gave Aida her life back.”
Dr. Tedros Yemane, International Medical Corps mobile health and nutrition (MHNT) Medical Officer, undertook Aida’s physical examination and diagnosed her with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. Then, he gave Aida six puffs of salbutamol inhalation every twenty minutes and after repeating the treatment three times, her symptoms improved. She was then prescribed additional medications—1 mg prednisolone per kg, twice a day for seven days. Tedros also counseled Aida’s mother on taking the medicines as prescribed, explained how to apply the salbutamol puff, and counseled on adherence and follow-up.
