AFRICA/ETHIOPIA – Healthcare and mobile school services for nomad pastoralists

Jijiga (Agenzia Fides) - The pastors of the Somali Region, in the south east of Etiopia live breeding cattle, camels, cattle and goats. In the arid and drought-prone region, they are forced to move from one place to another in search of pasture and water wells for their animals. The lifestyle of the community does not allow children to have proper schooling and as a consequence they are taught by the elders. Various kinds of mobile services have existed for decades in the Somali region, and in recent years the regional government, along with NGOs, have been promoting new initiatives to increase them throughout the region. In order to improve their living conditions, health care services, veterinary and mobile schools have been created, which go directly to the places where these people live. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 05/07/2014)