In the urban area around Cairo the Egypt Red Crescent, German Red Cross and Swiss Red Cross are improving public health services and employment opportunities, especially for African migrants, Syrian refugees and their host communities.
Situation
Egypt faces overcrowding in urban areas with 95 percent of the population living along the Nile River delta. This overpopulation causes a strain on resources, such as clean drinking water and adequate health care. People are struggling with high unemployment rates, families affected by poverty have doubled over the last 15 years.
At the same time, the country’s location at the crossroads of Africa, Western Asia and Europe has contributed to Egypt being a migrant transit state as well as a destination country for large numbers of refugees. Finally, Egypt is also home to a sizeable Syrian refugee community.
Poverty and health risks
The standards of care in public health facilities in Egypt are often low, especially when compared to privately financed care. In order to break the cycle of poverty and increased health risks, it is necessary to improve basic medical care and make it accessible for the entire population, including immigrants and refugees. This is an important step on the way to social justice and equal opportunities at work.
Project purpose
In collaboration with the ERC, the German and Swiss Red Cross aim to strengthen the overall community resilience and social cohesion by improving public health services as a key entry point. Targeted families mainly live in vulnerable communities of refugees and migrants. Furthermore, they get support to enhance their employment opportunities and livelihood.
Six ERC Community hubs provide regular first and second line health care services in the target areas in Greater Cairo. Two doctors, one nurse, one pharmacist, two lab technicians and three volunteers daily support each community hub. Each hub is equipped for screening of diseases and child malnutrition. Patients are provided with medicines. This component targets 14.000 individual beneficiaries.
Regular health education seminars take place in the hubs to increase knowledge regarding different health topics, according to the needs and feedbacks. A Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team attends the hubs and provides group sessions to the beneficiaries, addressing different mental health issues, like anxiety, sleep disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and self-care.
Vulnerable groups get the opportunity to attain wage-employment in their neighborhoods within Micro and Small enterprises (MSEs). This can contribute to their access to a steady income for themselves and their households. Accordingly, beneficiaries are provided with a range of self-employment and wage employment courses based on their initial assessment and market assessment. Furthermore, they get seed-funding for their self-employment track.
About the project
Area
Greater Kairo; 6th of October, 10th of Ramadan, Arab Maadi, Ard Ellwa, Ain Shams, and Tabba
Funding
European Union (EUTF), German Red Cross (GRC), Swiss Red Cross (SRC)
Partner
Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), Swiss Red Cross
Objetive
Supporting African migrants, Syrian refugees and hosting communities; Strengthen Protection and Resilience to People in Need