Project Overview Eritrea
Since our founding in 2012 in Asmara, our team at For Eritrea e.V. has been dedicated to providing healthcare support for women, mothers, and children. Our central mission, as outlined in our charter, is to sustainably support local medical personnel through targeted training and continuing education projects. In close collaboration with our partners—the Post Graduate Medical Education (PGME) Program, the Asmara College of Health Sciences (ACHS), and the Orotta National Referral Hospital—we have focused on developing and gradually implementing these projects.
We would like to take a brief look back at our key steps from the beginning until 2020. Each of these development steps was carefully documented from the start.
Gynecology
In gynecology, our focus was on training Eritrean doctors in modern gynecological surgical techniques, particularly in areas that had not previously been practiced in Eritrea, such as cancer surgeries. Another goal was the introduction of minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy) and the training of operating room staff. We also established a dysplasia clinic for cancer screening.
Oncology
Our goal in the field of oncology was to establish a program for the treatment of women with cervical and breast cancer. This included training medical personnel in the introduction of chemotherapy, which is necessary for the post-operative treatment of patients with breast and gynecological cancers.
Obstetrics/Neonatology
To reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, we introduced guidelines and provided CTG machines for monitoring childbirth to avoid complications during delivery. Additionally, we provided further training for midwives and improved collaboration between obstetrics, neonatology, and pediatrics.
Pathology & Anesthesia
In pathology, we supported the development of a comprehensive service offering, including cytopathology, histopathology, and immunopathology. We ensured the presence of pathologists on-site and provided training for laboratory personnel. Furthermore, we promoted the education of specialist pathologists and the expansion of internet-based telepathology.
In anesthesia, we focused on the clinical training of medical personnel and the formal postgraduate education in anesthesia, intensive care, and emergency medicine. We established safe anesthesia procedures and introduced video laryngoscopy for training purposes and for difficult intubations.
Workshops and Support
Between 2012 and 2020, we conducted numerous project-related workshops at the Orotta National Referral Hospital in Asmara. In 2020, we inaugurated a laparoscopy unit sponsored by the company Storz at Edaga Hamus Hospital as part of a workshop. We believe that our work has made a sustainable contribution to improving healthcare. Transparency, diligent analysis of our efforts, and objective documentation have been key factors in the success of our projects. Thanks to this solid foundation, we received generous support.
A central factor in our success was our approach to involving our Eritrean partners as equals, with the shared goal of achieving sustainable improvements in healthcare for women, mothers, and children through self-help. This collaboration was officially confirmed by the Eritrean Ministry of Health.
Based on our experiences in Eritrea, we believe we have developed a model that can be applied to healthcare in other developing countries