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Introduction
The
successive Ethiopian regimes have been eroding the fundamental basis for
economic and social development of the Oromo people. While the productive
manpower of Oromia such as farmers, intellectuals, businessmen and
professionals are denied the
opportunity to play their respective roles in the society and rather put
in jails, killed or forced to flee their country, it is unthinkable to
build a healthy and prosperous Oromo society. It is clear that the primary
cause for famine, diseases, abject poverty, an all-out misery and
wretchedness in oromia is the complete erosion of political rights,
economic and social justice and the rule of law.
Health
is very fundamental for human life and it forms the basis for the
development of any nation. It is true that development is
unthinkable without having a healthy and striving working people.
The development of health in a country needs to be supported by the
development of health science & technology, which enables people apply
solutions that are already available & generate new knowledge for
tackling emerging health problems. The formulation of health science and
technology policy should be based on a firm commitment to improve the
health status of the country's population, taking in to account the
prevailing health and health related problems.
In
Ethiopia, parasitic & infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS account
for high mortality & morbidity. Malnutrition is prevalent particularly
among children & mothers.
Environmental
health problems are attributed to the occurrence of the great number of
communicable diseases in the country. Therefore, emphasis must be given to
preventive public health.
Research
on public health is the key to tackle and prevent diseases. Research work
can be effective and efficient if all stakeholders (researchers,
decision-makers & communities) are actively involved in the whole
process. This is not the case in Ethiopia. Health professionals are the
ones that contribute to this end.
Therefore,
Oromo Health Professionals have the duty and responsibility to contribute
to the health of the Oromo people by organising themselves and identifying
and acting on the health needs of Oromo people back home.
It
is understood that health is the vital component of the socio-economic and
political system of a nation and access to health care is the universal
right of citizens. However, people under national oppression and
subjugation have problem of access to proper health care and social
development as is the case for the oppressed nations and nationalities of
the Ethiopian Empire.
It
is known that the world community is repeatedly witnessing human tragedy
as a result of famine, HIV|AIDS and related diseases in Ethiopia. To
provide a lasting solution, we need to tackle the root cause of the Oromo
health problems. Doing so would not only benefit the people directly
exposed to the problem, but also create a mental relief for the Oromos
living in Diaspora in general and for the Oromo health professionals in
particular.
Analysis
of the current health problems of the Oromos and other nations and
nationalities living in Oromia and neighbouring regions and refugee camps
in neighbouring countries showed that:
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There
is lack of sufficient resources for the health sector due to the
government’s refusal to reinvest the resources generated in Oromia
for Oromia’s development.
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Non-
existent rural development initiatives that could potentially improve
the lives of the Oromo people.
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Banning
of indigenous Oromo relief and professional associations by using
various pretexts have denied the region a voice and helping hand
during critical situations.
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Viable
and clear cut health policy is unavailable in Oromia
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There
is a lack of visible development in health infrastructure in Oromia
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There
is inadequate medical and drug supplies to the region
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Material
and human resources are being removed from Oromia.
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There
is deliberate denial of health awareness among the people, which could
have helped the people to prevent most of the diseases including
HIV|AIDS.
Currently,
there are many Oromo health professionals living as refugees or otherwise
in Africa, Europe, North America and Oceania. We
believe that it is high time for Oromo health professionals to come
together and assess their own state of affairs. It is time for these
professionals to communicate with one another and find ways and means by
which they could maintain their own professions and also contribute to the
health and welfare of their own people at home and abroad. We recognize
the invaluable time, knowledge and experience that could have been used
for the well being of our people and ourselves have not been utilised
because of lack of organisation.
Therefore,
we the Oromo health professionals living in Scandinavia and Great Britain,
took the initiative to organize ourselves and established the Scandinavian
Oromo Health Professionals Association (SOHPA) in 2002. with
main objectives of:
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Building
a network of Oromo health professionals and supporters in Diaspora so
that these professionals get to know and sensitize one another.
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Making
one another aware of the basic problems of our people and discuss on
how we can react to the problems.
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Informing
other Oromos of the health problems with a view of obtaining support
to alleviate these problems.
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Presenting
the Oromo health problems to other health professionals’
organizations to get support and assistance
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Making
NGOs aware of Oromo health problems so that they focus on these
problems and work on them.
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Trying
to convince governmental and non-governmental organizations to
establish health infrastructure in Oromia
by using appropriate technology.
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Encouraging
Oromo and non-Oromo health scientists and researchers to invest on
health science and technology.
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Finding
ways and means of supporting and promoting activities in Oromia by
utilizing health science & Technology to help improve the health
status of the population at
large & underserved and vulnerable in particular.
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Promoting
Health Science & Technology in order to build up & strengthen
sustainable capacity in Health Science & Technology in Oromia in
the long term.
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Encouraging
and initiating Oromia National Health Research (ONHR) in order to
accelerate health development in a manner that ensures equity, multi-
directionality & interdisciplinary approaches.
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Breaking
the silence and acquiescence of the international community with
regard to spread of disease and recurrence of devastating natural and
man- made disasters in Ethiopia.
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Campaigning
for assistances so that we can be able to provide financial and
material support directly or indirectly to NGOs engaged in
humanitarian & health relief works in Oromia, and neighbouring
countries.
SOHPA
has subsequently embraced health professionals from other countries and
has become Oromo Health Professionals Association (OHPA) with the same
objectives listed above. This association is highly strengthened by
non-health professional supporters.
More
Oromo health professionals and supporters all over the world are humbly
requested to join the association so that we can make it more strong and
productive organization. The supporters will be co-members of the
association.
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