Human Rights Internship in Ethiopia
By Ramsey Tate, MS 2
Ramsey Tate, MS 2 & Gumuz Healer
I traveled to Ethiopia twice in the year prior to beginning medical school. During the months that I spent in Ethiopia, I learned Amharic and discovered a great deal about the culture and day-to-day life of rural Ethiopians. Although I had traveled extensively in other developing countries, I was shocked by the squalor and deprivation that I encountered in even the better off areas of Ethiopia. I returned to Ethiopia in summer 2006 as an intern with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief -Ethiopia (CPAR-E) through the University of Chicago's Human Rights Internship Program. During my internship, I lived and worked at CPAR-E's base camp in Debati. Debati is the least developed area in Benishangul-Gumuz, itself one of the least developed regions of the country.
Debati is accessible only by an unpaved road and, during the summer rainy season, the town is frequently accessible only by 4-wheel drive vehicle. There are no telephones and electricity is limited to a few hours each evening and supplied by a diesel generator. Located in the lowlands bordering Sudan, Debati bears a heavy burden of malaria and other tropical diseases. The population of approximately 56,000 is served by a single health center that lacks a physician or laboratory facilities. More than 96% of the population is rural and many communities are only reachable on foot.
In a country that ranks at the bottom of every index of human development, Debati is far below even national averages. Among marginalized populations, like women of the semi-nomadic Gumuz people, illiteracy rates approach 100%. More than half of all young children are seriously malnourished and nearly 1 out of 5 dies in its first year of life. Among those hardy infants that mark their first birthday, another 20% die before age 5. Water is scarce and disease-laden. Agricultural practices are rudimentary and food shortages and hunger are central experiences in Debati households. During my internship, I spent much of my time working with CPAR-E's Community Conversation Project (CCP), a series of biweekly open community forums in which villagers discuss HIV/AIDS and make decisions about how to combat the epidemic in their communities.
Combating HIV/AIDS in Debati is particularly challenging because, in the absence of HIV testing services, the prevalence of the disease is unknown and HIV/AIDS is largely a faceless epidemic. Through my work evaluating the CCP, I had the opportunity to visit many rural communities in Debati and talk with villagers about their health concerns. Because the CCP sites were regularly visited for supervision, I was able to return to certain villages several times and track the progress of the communities. Community participation and enthusiasm for the project was tremendous and changes arising from the project were visible in every community that I visited.
Despite the challenges facing Ethiopia, I am constantly amazed and invigorated by the joy and persistence of the Ethiopians that I meet. Without the Human Rights Program, I would certainly never have had the opportunity to spend time in Debati nor would I have ever encountered the Gumuz, an experience that was truly unique. My internship with CPAR-E has expanded my appreciation for the struggles of the Ethiopian people and also further developed my confidence in my ability to live and work in Ethiopia.
Find out more information about the University of Chicago Human Rights Internship.