IImprove access to lifesaving primary health and nutrition care services to conflict affected communities in Oromia, Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) and Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) through strengthening of primary health care system in the woredas hosting IDPs and those that IDPs return to.to the health facilities and woreda health offices. In response to the ongoing emergency needs, IRC proposes to continue the implementation of core packages of lifesaving primary healthcare (PHC), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), nutrition, and the revitalization of health care facilities of IDP hosting woredas in Oromia, SNNPR and BGRS. The project will target the following woredas:  Gimbi (rural) and Laloasabi of West Wollega zone Limu, Sasiga and Haro Limu of East Wollega zone in Oromia region Dilla Zuria, Yirgachafe woredas of Gedoe, SNNPR, and Guchi woreda of Berona zone, Oromia, and Oda Buldiglu of Assosa Zone in BGRS. 

IRC will apply the following approaches under this grant

1. In places with functional health facilities, IRC will provide health system support to enhance capacity in emergency PHC service provision through capacity building, provision of medical supplies and drugs, enhance infection prevention and control capacity, logistic support, epidemic investigation support, and improvement of disease surveillance.

2. In IDP sites where there is a functional health facility, IRC will support the facility to meet the demand for increased health services by implementing capacity building activities including providing medical supplies,  enhance infection prevention and control capacity, logistics support and assigning additional health workers in collaboration with Woreda Health Offices, Zonal Health Department and Regional Health Bureau (RHB). The IRC will also support in terms of minor maintenance and provision of furniture’s based on assessed needs.

3. In Addis Ababa where there is high Cholera case load, IRC health team will prioritize and support through capacitating health care workers in training and support the health facilities with infection prevention and medical supplies.

IRC will deploy at least two Health staff (one Health officer and one Assistant Heath Officer) in each of the target woreda.   In locations requiring surge support, the IRC will work with the government for assigning the required additional staff with direct IRC technical assistance and supervision.  Health system support activities are implemented based on assessed needs of targeted health facilities, which include capacity building to health care providers, provision of essential supplies such as drugs and equipment, strengthening epidemic disease surveillance and response, strengthening infection prevention and control capacity, and quality improvement initiatives. Surge support includes deploying additional health workers for facilities in IDP hosting and/or IDP returning locations. The supported services include static primary health care as well as outreach services depending on the settlement of the communities. The IRC  focus in the provision of inclusive PHC services which includes the of identification and referral services for individuals in needs of special attention such as people with disability, people living with HIV/AIDS, rape survivors, individuals with mental illness, unaccompanied minors, separated children and other people with limited access to these services. 

IRC’s response to emergency health is holistic, and involves community participation and local government engagement to ensure the sustainability of the intervention and proactively links with developmental programs whenever feasible.

Due to an increase in the demand for PHC services following the influx of IDPs in the targeted regions, the IRC proposes to expand its coverage of woredas to adjacent locations where the need for health intervention remains significant.