Intrahealth in Africa

by Trevor Snapp

Global health iniatives in Africa have achieved enourmous success over the last decade. Malaria and Polio are in retreat, and difficult relief operations have brought hope to numerous disaster and conflict zones. But beyond the news headlines, a quiet health revolution is taking place that will change the face of the continent forever. More African health professionals are curing more Africans than ever before.

For years international NGOs rarely worked with government health ministries and seemed paralyzed by the fact that Africa has so few doctors. Over the last few years organizations like Intrahealth have thrown all of their resources into supporting African health care systems by supporting African health care professionals. 

This year I was given the chance to document Intrahealth’s work in hospitals, rural clinics, laboratories, and trainings in East and West Africa. The last time I had been in Africa was in 2001 as a college student. I was shocked by the lack of basic health care in so many towns where I was doing my research. It seemed that so little was needed to help the people. The experience made me cynical about AID.

My journey with Intrahealth showed me that true change is possible. I saw hospital staff being supported, and government ministries building real long-term capacity. I was particularly struck by Intrahealth’s commitment to building the skills of nurses to do procedures that are normally only done by doctors. 

In Mali, a nursing college that Intrahealth supported, brought skilled nurses to rural clinics that had been empty for years. Another program taught soldiers in Southern Sudan to test their peers for HIV, help them access treatment, and give counseling. In Kenya, staff from an emergency hire program had helped turn struggling clinics into ambitious hospitals. Intrahealth had even convinced the Kenyan Ministry of Health to take responsibility for the program indefinitely.

I hope these images show the hope in the hands of these capable health care workers.

Trevor Snapp On behalf of Intrahealth