Lalmba runs a robust Public Health program that addresses potential illness before it occurs, utilizing innovative teaching methods. We provide on-the-job training to government health care workers in rural areas, and develop specific programming to address the unique health concerns of each community. In Ethiopia severe acute malnutrition is a focus; in Kenya our teams focus on HIV and malaria prevention.

Capacity Building:  

Lalmba Public Health staff and nurses travel to remote areas to educate health extension workers and community health volunteers on a wide range of subjects, from maintaining a cold chain to ensure vaccines are effective, to discussing danger signs in pregnancy.

Prenatal care:

To ensure that local mothers have optimal outcomes during delivery, public health outreach trips include provision of routine prenatal care to pregnant women to ensure that vaccinations are up to date, appropriate medicines and vitamins are taken, and that complications during delivery can be prevented.

 Well child care:

Lalmba nurses strive to improve the health of children through vaccinations, nutrition education, deworming, and treatment of malnutrition and acute childhood illnesses, both in the clinic and on public health outreach trips. Factoid: In Keffa, Ethiopia 12 in 100 children die before they reach their 5^th birthday. 

Vaccinations:

Nurses and public health staff help women and children in the community prevent disease by vaccinating against polio, tetanus, measles, diphtheria, and hepatitis.

Community Education:

Our public health teams offer formal health discussions and dialogues on a wide range of topics such as hygiene, nutrition, exclusive breast feeding, prevention of diarrhea and dehydration, HIV prevention, seizures, clean water, and rabies.  Dramas on market day, demonstrations with drawings and visuals and testimonials by locals who have been affected by these topics are a few ways our teams deliver the message that is so vital to sustainable health.

Nutrition education:

Factoid: 40% of children in Ethiopia do not reach a normal height because of malnutrition. To educate communities regarding healthy nutrition, Lalmba offers cooking classes, individual counseling, community discussions, and garden projects on the local level.

HIV education and prevention:

From school presentations to market dramas to local education sessions, Lalmba nurses educate communities regarding HIV prevention. They offer HIV screening tests which can be performed in the field and give instantaneous results.

Sanitation:

Public Health staff offer expertise to communities in areas such as latrine building, open defecation free environments, hand washing, and safe water systems.

Mobile Clinics:

In areas where most people live a few kilometers from the nearest road, Lalmba staff bring health services to local communities through mobile clinics, which offer prenatal care, vaccinations, well child care, and community education.