The goal of  health department is to increase health and productive capacity at household, community and the regional level, through the provision of community-based health care. Activity sectors under health program are: expansion of  primary health care services including reproductive health/MCH, eye care, and nutritional health and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Objective :

The over all goal of REST’s health program is to create a healthy and productive community in Tigray through community and sectoral-based health programs and thereby to ensure food security at the household level. Currently, REST’s health program covers 17 weredas of the region. In 2003, over 1.7 million people have benefited directly or indirectly by REST’s health program.In 2003, 305, 586 mothers received services on family planning, on postnatal care and TT2 (prevention of tetanus toxic). Further 332, 913 children under five years of age have also received services on EPI, growth monitoring, supplementary food and other minor treatments. With regard to capacity building, 361 health staffs, 2,241 community health workers, 1758 community peer educators and 277
adolescents received basic and refresher training on different health packages, technical and managerial skills. Health institutions of the region are poorly equipped and poorly staffed. In 2003, 12 motor cycle, 5 TV sets, 8 refrigerators, 1 power generator 506 first aid kits, 8522 box of condoms and 1,773 gloves, 20 MT supplementary food and drugs and various other equipment were offered to various weredas to mitigate the scarcity of medical equipment. Over 1489 household latrines were also
constructed. The severe level of poverty in the region is exacerbated by HIV/AIDS. This has created a far-reaching social an economic consequence in the region. REST endorses awareness on HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this is to educate the community on HIV/AIDS. Thus, REST prepared materials and distributed them to all weredas of the region. The number of HIV/AIDS orphans in Tigray is
alarmingly increasing and discrimination and stigma on HIV/AIDS patients and children who have lost their parents due to AIDS is high. In this regard, REST has continuously provided health education through out the year. Also, 781 HIV/AIDS orphans received cash support.

Specific objectives of REST’s Health program

-Expand and strengthen an integrated services and interventions (which promote the health welfare of mothers and children)
- Expand and strengthen the primary health care unit infrastructures and facilities.
- Increase the capacity of the community and the health staffs in areas of identified gaps through training.
- Improve the personal and environmental hygiene related knowledge attitude and practice of selected communities.
- Increase the knowledge and practice related to nutrition and appropriate food and nutrients use of targeted communities
and households.
- Strengthen activities related to the prevention and control of common epidemics (HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc), which have negative impact on other developmental activities.

Program Impacts

• Over 5,514 pregnant mothers are guarded from pregnancy related morbidity and mortality.
  
• 6229 mothers are prevented from tetanus oxide
• More than 2,902 infants prevented from having measles and its complication.
• Over 19,956 children cured from different childhood illness
• Over 8,511 people trained and more than 340,400 PHT (person hour trained) attained as capacity building.
• More than 308,263 adults were informed about HIV/AIDS, MCH/FP, EPL and other health issues
• Over 20,874 condoms were distributed

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