Village Africa uses a 3 step approach in its health programme:
- Prevention – seminars given by qualified personnel in the local languages
- Early testing – health post with laboratory staffed by qualified nurses
- Emergency trips to hospital. Seminars have been held on many subjects including malaria, HIV/AIDS, cholera, water and sanitation, pneumonia, first aid, hygiene, nutrition and childcare. Sessions are held in different locations and for different groupings (including secondary and primary school children as appropriate).
Village Africa has renovated, furnished, equipped and staffed Yamba Village Health Post. It has a simple laboratory. It keeps a rolling stock of medicines. Kiswahili health education posters are displayed. Villagers walk up to 7 hours to reach this help. There are approximately 800 cases per year. It has a 24 hour call-out, 365 days of the year.
Emergency trips to hospital are provided to villagers, day and night, free of charge. It is a two day walk to hospital otherwise. Within its short history, Village Africa has greatly reduced the death rate. Common problems are malaria, pneumonia and complications in childbirth. Many of the patients are babies and children.
Village Africa was advised by visiting health professional volunteers prior to changes in the immigration process.
Village Africa works in partnership with other medical charities:
- Medicine Education Africa (MEA) which provides village health workers with medicines free of charge. Village Africa trains and supervises MEA workers in its area and MEA provides the medicine.
- Thare Machi which provides health DVDs. Village Africa shows these DVDs to villagers and translates new scripts into Kiswahili for Thare Machi.
