Written by Administrator | 23 March 2009

Community Herbal Care: an outpatients’ clinic with galenical laboratory for children skin health, Ankober district, Amara Regional State, Ethiopia.

The general aim of the project is to improve childhood health concerning common skin diseases in Ankober district, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. It will be realized creating an alternative and innovative system for health management at community level. The system will work as an independent model for primary care, based on sustainable use of natural resources available in the area and on capacity building of the community in the management of skin diseases. The planned actions are aimed at increasing scientific knowledge on natural resources to treat common dermatological diseases, enhancing self production capacity on herbal medicines to increase drugs availability at lower prices, thus improving access to dermatological care for children living in the area. Herbal medicines represent the optimal option to fulfil the drugs need, integrated with cultural believes and local attitudes. Essential oils have proven acaricidal, pediculicidal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as antibacterial activities against a wide spectrum of bacteria. The creation of an herbal medicines formulary, mostly based on essential oils extracted from natural resources locally available, will cover the 77,3% of common dermatological diseases which affect children living in the area.

Ankober sanitary conditions and community’s health status

Assessment and feasibility studies have been carried out on Ankober sanitary condition and children health status living in the area. Ankober district is located in Ethiopian highland on 2950 m above the sea level. Here it looks like living in another time, cultural heritage and traditions are still undamaged, but also sanitary conditions are still outdated. Poverty related diseases are very frequent, especially in children.

 

Why Herbs?

Medicinal herbs represent ,for the side of the world far from opulence and comforts, the most accessible resource for health and health-care self-sufficiency.
Thyme based cream tested by IPO on tinea (mycotic infections of skin) effectively better skin condition on 89,8% of the cases. Out of this, 66,4% was completely healed while 23,5% had an improvement. Together with the cream, an ointment against ringworm was tested out. Ointment improved 77,8% of the cases. 43,6% of children was successfully healed while a partial improvement was observed in 28,9% and a very good improvement in 5,26% , although without healing.

Why Dermatology?

Skin is body’s widest organ. Skin is the first interface with the outside world, the last layer of community which coincides with the first of individuals, because skin is partially exposed and public and can, as often is, be touched. Because skin transfers heat, indifferently from different pigmentation.

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