Availability of Essential Medicines and Supplies in health facilities in War zones of Amhara region, Northern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems. It should be selected based on disease prevalence, public health relevance as well as evidence of efficacy and safety and cost-effectiveness. There had been major armed conflict resulting in large-scale displacement and impending the availability of essential medicines and supplies in Northern Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the availability of essential medicines and supplies in war-affected zones in the Amhara region.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 health care facilities from May 16-29, 2022. Data were
collected using service availability and readiness assessment tool and a key informant guide. Finally, data was
exported from ODK to excel and then to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 for analysis.
Descriptive statistics were computed, and presented in tables and Thematic analysis was used to analyze the
qualitative data.
Results: About 128 (84.8%) of health facilities were health centers among with 45% and 77.5% of them had
procurement plan and ordered essential medicine, respectively. Vaccine availability ranges from 0% for measles to 88.7% Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis B, Homophiles influenza type B, and Polio vaccines. The availability of combined oral contraceptives was 65 (43%) whereas Coartem was 100 (66.2%), Anti Retroviral Therapy adult 52 (34.4%), Antiretroviral pediatrics 25(17.2%), Anti- Tuberculosis drugs rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol 74 (49%), rifampicin, isoniazid adult 72 (47.7%), and rifampicin, isoniazid Pediatrics 53 (35.1%) were available in the health facilities and for non-communicable diseases or essential drugs were very limited which was less than 50% for all essential drugs.
Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study health facilities in war affected area did not have adequate
essential medicines and supplies to provide health services. So strengthening collaborative efforts of the national and regional government, and other stakeholders to restore essential drugs in health facilities is urgently needed.