Untitled Document

“Comitato Collaborazione Medica” (Medical Collaboration Committee) CCM is a non-governmental organization of international development cooperation founded in Turin, Italy, in 1968 and whose guiding principles are the values of solidarity and equity, acceptance of the different cultures, enhancement of human resources and promotion of self development. Its main activities are in the field of health but it is also active in other fields such as livestock development, education, food security, water and sanitation. CCM has been operational in Moyale district since 1982, mainly with health care programs.
Moyale is a district in the northern part of Kenya, a region inhabited by Cushitic communities. It is an arid region with temperatures ranging between 27-38 degrees C. Administratively the district is divided into 4 divisions i.e. Moyale Central, Golbo, Obbu and Uran divisions. The inhabitants of the area are mainly Boranas who are traditionally pastoralists and therefore the economy is based mainly on livestock production with very limited farming activities. There are also Garres, Ajurans, Gabras and Sakuye living within the district. Moyale borders Ethiopia to the North, Marsabit district to the South west, Wajir district to the South east and Isiolo to the South. The district has a population of 58,571 people. Moyale district like other parts of the Northern region of Kenya has had its shares of natural calamities (droughts) as well as insecurity problems characterized by banditry and frequent attacks by the Oromo Liberation Front as well as the Ethiopian military from across the Ethiopian border. This has led to the diversion of government development funds for the district to security enforcement in the area and subsequently wards off development actors and donors from the area for the reason of insecurity. For the few who operate in the area, their main focus seems to be relief. This explains the lack of infrastructure, development and subsequently the marginalization of the area.
Since 1982, CCM has been providing health care services in Moyale by supporting the Sololo Missionary Hospital. The activities of CCM during these years were within the hospital. However, in the last few years the focus of CCM interventions has shifted from support of the missionary hospital to extending its services outside the hospital through the primary health care project and supporting government-run dispensaries around the areas of Obbu and Uran divisions. This was after an assessment conducted by CCM in the area which indicated that a large population could not access the health services provided at the hospital either due to the distances involved or the inability to afford the cost sharing fee charged by the hospital. It was therefore deemed appropriate to establish a Primary Health Care project that would provide services in communities that have no access to health services/facilities through provision of mobile curative services as well as support the government dispensaries that are more accessible to a majority of the population due to the affordable cost recovery fee charged in these facilities. The mobile clinic services are reinforced by a community mass education initiative that aims at raising awareness amongst the community on issues regarding health and sanitation in order to promote good health practices. This is complemented by a social welfare project that provides assistance to poor families and students in the form of food rations, capital to start income generating activities, restocking of livestock and scholarships with funding from private donors.
The assessment also indicated that water was a major problem within the district and hence a major source of conflict. The recurrent drought experienced in Northern Kenya as a result of poor rainfall received during past five years has affected this region heavily. Water has always been a rare and very precious commodity in this community. There is a presence of very few boreholes and strong reliance on water pans for both domestic and animal use. This situation has been exacerbated by the recurrent droughts being experienced in the area, compromising significantly the livelihood of the community. Drought forces greater competition over grazing land and water points, leading one group to seek pasture or water in areas demarcated as the preserves of another clan. The scarce rainfall makes it impossible to avoid conflict in periods of drought, since pasture and water, where they can be found, are not enough to support an expanding herd of local and roving herders.
Water and pasture being a major source of conflict between the Moyale community and its neighbors, particularly communities living in Obbu and Uran divisions of Moyale, CCM deemed it relevant to include water projects within its interventions. This involved the drilling of a borehole and rehabilitation works in Amballo and Sololo town. CCM has also in the past worked with the local Chiefs in creating awareness on environmental management issues through its mass information activities to ensure that the communities understand the need for proper management of the pasture resources and advocate for traditional measures of pasture conservation. This has helped reduce tension and conflict for the residents of Obbu division who for many years had problems with the communities in the neighboring district in search of water and pasture for the livestock.
However, the water points (boreholes in this case) available are still not sufficient for these communities compared to the livestock population. The management of the pasture resource is also affected by this as there is often overcrowding at the points where there are permanent water sources (in this case boreholes). There is therefore need to have boreholes in areas that have good pasture within Moyale but do not have permanent sources of water in order to reduce the potential of conflict with the neighboring communities. This should however be coupled with community dialogue with the aim of reconciliation as one community cannot exist in isolation and there will always be need for interaction between these communities in one way or the other. Development of water resources to sustain the livelihoods of the communities and prevent inter-tribal clashes in Moyale district has therefore become an integral part of CCM strategy for support of the area.
The Primary donors for the above mentioned activities and projects in the area are: Private Friends Groups. The following is a narration of each project activities and updates.

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Background information
“Comitato Collaborazione Medica” (Medical Collaboration Committee) CCM is a non-governmental organization of international development cooperation founded in Turin, Italy, in 1968 and whose guiding principles are the values of solidarity and equity, acceptance of the different cultures, enhancement of human resources and promotion of self development. Its main activities are in the field of health but it is also active in other fields such as livestock development, education, food security, water and sanitation. CCM has been operational in Moyale district since 1982, mainly with health care programs. Moyale is a district in the northern part of Kenya, a region inhabited by Cushitic communities. It is an arid region with temperatures ranging between 27-38 degrees C. Administratively the district is divided into 4 divisions i.e. Moyale Central, Golbo, Obbu and Uran divisions. The inhabitants of the area are mainly Boranas who are traditionally pastoralists and therefore the economy is based mainly on livestock production with very limited farming activities. There are also Garres, Ajurans, Gabras and Sakuye living within the district. Moyale borders Ethiopia to the North, Marsabit district to the South west, Wajir district to the South east and Isiolo to the South. The district has a population of 58,571 people. Moyale district like other parts of the Northern region of Kenya has had its shares of natural calamities (droughts) as well as insecurity problems characterized by banditry and frequent attacks by the Oromo Liberation Front as well as the Ethiopian military from across the Ethiopian border. This has led to the diversion of government development funds for the district to security enforcement in the area and subsequently wards off development actors and donors from the area for the reason of insecurity. For the few who operate in the area, their main focus seems to be relief. This explains the lack of infrastructure, development and subsequently the marginalization of the area. Since 1982, CCM has been providing health care services in Moyale by supporting the Sololo Missionary Hospital. The activities of CCM during these years were within the hospital. However, in the last few years the focus of CCM interventions has shifted from support of the missionary hospital to extending its services outside the hospital through the primary health care project and supporting government-run dispensaries around the areas of Obbu and Uran divisions. This was after an assessment conducted by CCM in the area which indicated that a large population could not access the health services provided at the hospital either due to the distances involved or the inability to afford the cost sharing fee charged by the hospital. It was therefore deemed appropriate to establish a Primary Health Care project that would provide services in communities that have no access to health services/facilities through provision of mobile curative services as well as support the government dispensaries that are more accessible to a majority of the population due to the affordable cost recovery fee charged in these facilities. The mobile clinic services are reinforced by a community mass education initiative that aims at raising awareness amongst the community on issues regarding health and sanitation in order to promote good health practices. This is complemented by a social welfare project that provides assistance to poor families and students in the form of food rations, capital to start income generating activities, restocking of livestock and scholarships with funding from private donors. The assessment also indicated that water was a major problem within the district and hence a major source of conflict. The recurrent drought experienced in Northern Kenya as a result of poor rainfall received during past five years has affected this region heavily. Water has always been a rare and very precious commodity in this community. There is a presence of very few boreholes and strong reliance on water pans for both domestic and animal use. This situation has been exacerbated by the recurrent droughts being experienced in the area, compromising significantly the livelihood of the community. Drought forces greater competition over grazing land and water points, leading one group to seek pasture or water in areas demarcated as the preserves of another clan. The scarce rainfall makes it impossible to avoid conflict in periods of drought, since pasture and water, where they can be found, are not enough to support an expanding herd of local and roving herders. Water and pasture being a major source of conflict between the Moyale community and its neighbors, particularly communities living in Obbu and Uran divisions of Moyale, CCM deemed it relevant to include water projects within its interventions. This involved the drilling of a borehole and rehabilitation works in Amballo and Sololo town. CCM has also in the past worked with the local Chiefs in creating awareness on environmental management issues through its mass information activities to ensure that the communities understand the need for proper management of the pasture resources and advocate for traditional measures of pasture conservation. This has helped reduce tension and conflict for the residents of Obbu division who for many years had problems with the communities in the neighboring district in search of water and pasture for the livestock. However, the water points (boreholes in this case) available are still not sufficient for these communities compared to the livestock population. The management of the pasture resource is also affected by this as there is often overcrowding at the points where there are permanent water sources (in this case boreholes). There is therefore need to have boreholes in areas that have good pasture within Moyale but do not have permanent sources of water in order to reduce the potential of conflict with the neighboring communities. This should however be coupled with community dialogue with the aim of reconciliation as one community cannot exist in isolation and there will always be need for interaction between these communities in one way or the other. Development of water resources to sustain the livelihoods of the communities and prevent inter-tribal clashes in Moyale district has therefore become an integral part of CCM strategy for support of the area. The Primary donors for the above mentioned activities and projects in the area are: Private Friends Groups. The following is a narration of each project activities and updates.