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Ethiopian Project

JHI is expanding its program to include an enhanced medical initiative for Ethiopian immigrants residing in Israel and the United States, specifically Atlanta, GA. Upon immigrating, many new immigrants bring with them a plethora of health problems that are more typical of their environment of origin such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, intestinal and other parasitic diseases. Additionally after a short time in their new home, many exhibit a rise in both physical and mental health problems such as diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and depression. Israeli and American cultures are vastly different from Ethiopian culture with respect to health services, practices, and access to care that can influence the general health of the immigrant. Individuals may not know that medicines or treatments are available and therefore, may not seek medical care or even understand how to access available services.
By developing and implementing a comprehensive medical assistance program, the immigrants will be empowered to address and resolve pressing health issues and will also gain the tools necessary to integrate within the Israeli or American medical system and country as a whole. The proposed comprehensive program will include:

• A 13 month qualitative research component will study the challenges faced by the new immigrants, engage formal and informal community leaders to provide entry into the population, enhance the facilitator program, and provide vital information which will enhance the medical screening component.
• An Ethiopian facilitator training component to train individuals who immigrated at least 5 years ago to guide newer immigrants through the healthcare system.
• Enhanced medical screening through the establishment of ongoing public health seminars as well as regular screening, referral and follow up in the areas of: vision, hearing and dental.

The medical absorption initiative will be developed and implemented by Jewish Healthcare International (JHI) in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Health, the Jewish Agency for Israel, The Dekalb County Board of Health, the Ethiopian Community Organization, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) and Hebrew University, Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine (BSPH).

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