By Collette McEntee | Intern
Sofia, 22, is a Health Extension Worker and is mainly responsible for the preventable aspects of diseases, working at the local health post in the Kebele, Ethiopia. Sofia distributes the antibiotic Zithromax and is also responsible for educating and mobilizing her community on a variety of health related issues including trachoma, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
Initially, there was a lot of fear and suspicion attached to the use of drugs/antibiotics and the community was unaware of the cause and cure of trachoma. People thought trachoma was an ‘evil eye’ or a hand from God to get sick or related to age; as people grew older, they were more probable to get it.
Sofia’s own father had trachoma and fortunately, was treated and cured with tetracycline eye ointment. Along with the antibiotics, the prevention of trachoma stems into the introduction of suitable sanitary facilities, community latrines and defecation free areas.
Previously, patients refused to go to their consultations. Since, community members have gone for consultation, benefited and now share what they learn – one learns from the other. The demand has increased and Sofia and her team no longer have to chase people to maintain their necessary dosage.
As a designated health extension worker and with the aid of Orbis, Sofia has created a lot of change; people that were averse to using prescribed drugs are now proactive users of the antibiotic Zithromax.
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