The Health Department in REST implements programs across half the districts in Tigray.
· Maternal and Child Health Care (MCHC) activities include basic health services for mothers and children under 5. Community Health Agents and Traditional Birth Attendants are trained on safe delivery, ante- and post-natal care, growth monitoring, mother and child nutrition, immunization and methods of health information provision.
· Reproductive Health and Family Planning training is provided to Community Based Reproductive Health Agents, adolescents, community and religious leaders and associations and focuses on decreasing unwanted pregnancies, maternal and child mortality, planning family sizes and delaying first pregnancies.
· The HIV/AIDS/STIs prevention program covers management of STDs, advocacy, community peer education, home based care, mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and its impacts across all sectors and support of AIDS orphans.
· Infectious disease (mostly malaria and tuberculosis) mitigation depends heavily on prevention through increased awareness creation of transmission, basic diagnosis and the use of preventions such as pesticide treated bed nets.
· Basic personal hygiene, hygienic food preparation, domestic waste disposal, safe water and sanitation are the key environmental health issues tackled with community health workers and community leaders.
· Expansion and strengthening of basic health facilities and infrastructure.