20,000+
People reached
300+
Primary students
60+
Secondary students
32
Women council reps
3
Districts served
The pastoralist communities culture involves migration over large distances in search of livestock pastures, creating serious challenges in accessing healthcare. Poor road infrastructure further limits travel. ENCO aims to bridge this gap by establishing health centers, mobile clinics, and community education programs in the most remote areas.
- Establish health centers in remote pastoralist communities to meet specific needs
- Establish mobile health clinics with timely referral services
- Health education on nutrition, hygiene, malaria prevention, and family planning
- Organize vision clinic programs via local eye specialists
- Recruit medical volunteers to support service delivery
Maternal Health & HIV/AIDS Project
Pastoralist Women Advancement for Gender Empowerment
As time passes, the AIDS pandemic continues to spike, affecting an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide. The Maasai have traditionally lived as pastoralists, surviving off of their cattle with which they share their water, increasing the risk for contamination. However, as the population of Tanzania increases, the land the Maasai have traditionally used for grazing is shrinking. For this reason, some have turned to farming to maintain their livelihood.
These factors have contributed to the desertification and deforestation of their region. As the lifestyle of the Maasai evolves, they rely more on maize than meat and dairy products for their nutrients. All of these changes have contributed to the evolution of the Maasai culture..
“This is a war. It has killed more people than has been the case in all previous wars and in all previous natural disasters. We must not continue to be debating, to be arguing, when people are dying.”
Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa
PAGE Project
Pastoralist Women Advancement for Gender Empowerment
In 2019, ENCO received funding from the International Forum of Indigenous Women (FIMI) for the PAGE project a one-year initiative in Monduli district focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, STD awareness, and FGM/cutting abandonment.
Knowledge was designed to transfer to at least 1,225 additional community members. Post-project outcomes included measurably more women seeking health services and an increase in voluntary counseling and testing.
Young mothers’ knowledge, voice, and capacity were strengthened for informed decision-making on SRH. Safe delivery and family planning uptake increased by approximately 10% compared to pre-intervention levels. The project contributed to SDG #3 (Good Health) and SDG #5 (Gender Equality).
- Increased awareness on HIV/AIDS, STDs and abandonment of FGM practices
- Girls and young mothers empowered to demand and access SRH services
- Safe delivery and family planning rates rising across intervention villages
- Growing attendance at village dispensaries from knowledge education
