Health and Resettlement in Ethiopia with an Emphasis on the 1984/85 Resettlement Programme: A Review

Abstract

Tbe major objective of this review of health implications of government-sponsored resettlempnt in Ethiopia is to indicate the healtb status of settlers and the health hazards of resettlement. The locus is on the 19841{J5 resettlement programme, which resulted in the movement of about 600,000 drougbt victims from northern and central Ethiopia to the western part of the country. Malaria, trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, yellow fever, podoco'ni{}sis and sand-flea infestation are identified as immediate and greater hazards than in the areas of settler origin, based on the geograp.hic distribution and ecology of the major communicable, nutritional and geochemical diseases in Ethiopia. More studies are needed on the ep'idemiology and ecology of bancroftiar filariasis, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, dracunculiasis, eye and skin infections, tuberculosis, me,ningitis, intestinal parasitims, diarrhoea and caiorielp'rorein malnutrition before their public health and economic significance can be evaluated. Schistosomiasis appears to be less common, for the time being, in the resettlement areas than in the areas of settler origin. Research needs on constraints in resettlement planning, implementation and operation are identified, and some rec,ommendati: ons made for disease control programmes.