Currently, the devastating disease HIV/AIDS expansion is increasing, especially in rural villages of Ethiopia. The most affected groups are mothers and children. Almost all mothers are delivering at home with the risk of death and disability. Those mothers who require further management and treatment cannot afford to travel to nearby towns mainly because of financial difficulties and lack of safe transport.
To alleviate the adverse health situations, the new Mokonissa Health Centre provides quality health services both curative and preventive and will improve and strengthen vaccination, prenatal care, delivery, under 3 age children GM, environmental health/sanitation and health education.
The Project activities will involve 4 Kebeles of Damon Gale District, Wolaitta Zone in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State and the Centre is intended to serve approx 25.000 beneficiaries.
The existing health post had to be upgraded to become a “Health centre” in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government, therefore all necessary medical equipment, essential drugs, diagnostic reagents, medical supplies, furniture, office equipment, technical and supporting staff had to be provided for the purpose of meeting the required standards.
Thanks to the financial contributions made available by Gruppo Agire, Elettroveneta Spa., Anna e Roberto Tononi as well as by other private donors, Butterfly Foundation could start, in November 2010 the rehabilitation of the existing premises and the construction of a new building.
On February 13th 2012, the first phase of the project has been successfully completed with an opening ceremony attended by hundreds of people, children of the nearby school and kindergarten and the Wolaita Region bishop.
On June 23rd 2012 additional works required by the local government, such as completion of the fencing of the clinic, a new wall separating the clinic from the attached primary school and kindergarten, a small incinerator for the hospital wastes, a hole for the placentas disposal and ad another exit gate, have been completed. The Associazione Accoglienza secured the required funds for the purchasing of medicines and the Government allowed duty-free import of medical equipment.
On March 27th 2013 Butterfly Foundation received a donation from the Foundation “Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo” that allowed the completion of the local purchasing of medical and non-medical equipment foreseen by the project documents.
On June 8th 2013, in the presence of all local authorizes as well as of the bishop of the Region, Mokonissa Health Center has been officially opened.
The Sant’Anne Daughters Congregation, supported by staff to be secured by the Government, will take care of the clinic operation in favour of approx 25.000 people.