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In the wake of the tsunami many thousands of people in Aceh were in need of urgent medical care. However, the disaster almost completely destroyed the health infrastructure, which was already weakened by years of civil unrest and under-funding.

After the tsunami large numbers of people were forced to live in temporary accommodations. The conditions in the camps and barracks were often cramped and unhygienic and access to basic services was limited. In this environment the risk from outbreaks of infectious diseases was very high.

Islamic Relief healthcare projects

Emergency

• Medical supplies, first aid kits and hygiene packs were distributed to over 28,000 people living in temporary camps to prevent the spread of disease,
• Islamic Relief mobile clinics provided 5,000 displaced people with medical care
• Volunteers were trained on hygiene issues
• Four ambulances were given to district health offices giving 1,800 people access to emergency transportation to hospital.

Reconstruction, training and health campaigns
By the end of 2005 our work to reconstruct the clinics and hospitals was well underway and by 2007 we reconstructed 27 clinics and one hospital. These facilities have helped more than 60,000 people gain access to quality healthcare.

To increase the capacity of the healthcare service in the region Islamic Relief also trained around 200 health professionals.

To help keep local communities healthy, we conducted health campaigns on personal hygiene, nutrition and reproductive health, reaching more than 6,000 vulnerable people.

Maternal healthcare and immunization

Rates of child and maternal mortality in Aceh are high, so we have focused much of our work on providing healthcare for pregnant women and young children.

Islamic Relief has constructed community clinics that provide pre-natal and post-natal care, vaccinations, growth monitoring and reproductive health advice. In addition we also trained 116 midwives to provide care to women who may otherwise have had no medical support during pregnancy.

To help keep children in Aceh safe, we immunized over 1,500 under fives against polio.

Seulanga health clinic

Mulyani, 40, is having a busy day. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Seulanga Health Clinic and child care group in the village of Kopelma, Syiah Kuala sub-district. And today she has ten under-fives in her care.

Village health post

Seulanga clinic is what is known in Aceh as a posyandu (village health post). Posyandus provide essential medical care to people who may otherwise have to travel long distances to get to a health clinic. They specialize in maternal and infant health care.
This posyandu was built by Islamic Relief in December 2005, and is one of 14 similar facilities that we have built throughout Aceh.

The center focuses on providing integrated healthcare for children by meeting their medical needs and encouraging personal development. Healthcare is integrated with education, providing the children with interaction, stimulation and a safe place to play.

The play group attached to the clinic helps parents who cannot afford to send their children to nursery school and provides the young children with educational materials and toys.

“We are not only teaching them how to sing and draw,” explained Mulyani, “but also to grow their creativity and improve their intelligence at an early age.”

Caring for mothers and children

Mulyani and five other staff members manage the activities at the center. In an area where women often find it difficult to get access to a trained mid-wife, they provide pregnant women with pre-natal and post-natal care.

They are also working towards reducing rates of child mortality and malnutrition by providing services for children such as growth monitoring, immunizations, and sessions on infant nutrition and hygiene.

Working for a healthier community

Nuraini, 42, explained, “We were given training, funded by Islamic Relief at the Syiah Kuala Community Health center. Here doctors and nurses shared their knowledge about how to care for pregnant women and children.”

”We visited other health clinics and saw how a well-run clinic can help the whole community become healthier. We can learn from this and implement it in Aceh.”

Mulyani said, “I am so happy that Islamic Relief built this building. Pregnant mothers need somewhere to check the progress of their pregnancies and children really need this play ground.”