Implementation Strategy

Ensure that strategies are technically feasible, cost effective and sustainable

• Provide effective management and logistics structure for all services delivery
  
• Ensure community mobilization and participation and self-managements among the population
  
• Ensure local capacity building through staff training and development
  
• Ensure effective interagency coordination and inter-sector cooperation, collaboration, judicious resource mobilization and use

Care for Poliomyelitis Victims

A mobile medical team composed of a physiotherapist, a nurse and an orthopedic technician regularly visits peasant associations.  The team registers and evaluates polio patients who later receive physiotherapy as well as aid and appliances.  The appliances are produced by the well-equipped workshop of the Center. There are also provisions for corrective surgeries for patients with severe contractures.  The surgeries are performed at the center by orthopedic and plastic surgeons coming from Addis Ababa and abroad.  The Grarbet workshop which was established to produce braces for polio victims is also producing white cane for the blind.  The low-cost white canes have become popular with blind associations and rehabilitation projects in Addis Ababa and the Regions.

Care for Persons with Epilepsy

Persons with epilepsy are brought to the center for initial investigation and diagnosis, including electroencephalography. Patients are then started on medications medicines prescribed by the neurologist or trained physician.  Further follow up is provided by the mobile team, both at the center and at the outreach health posts in peasant associations.  At present (2006) there are 3,000 persons with epilepsy under regular follow up.