africa where americares work relief AmeriCares has been working in Africa since 1985 when a severe famine in Ethiopia claimed one million lives. African relief efforts have grown beyond Ethiopia throughout the continent over the past two decades. In 1994, AmeriCares established a field hospital in Rwanda after civil strife left massive populations in need of medical services.

Currently, AmeriCares delivers medicines and medical supplies to support clinics and hospitals in a number of countries, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. An ongoing response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and neighboring Chad has been underway since 2004. In addition, AmeriCares Africa program includes:

HIV/AIDS
AmeriCares delivers medicines and supplies to care for patients with HIV/AIDS and protect health care workers from occupational exposure to the virus.
Strengthening African Hospital Program
AmeriCares delivers consumable supplies and medical devices to hospitals in Eritrea, Ghana and Kenya to strengthen local health infrastructures.

Blindness Prevention Program
AmeriCares delivers Pfizer-donated Zithromax® to cure the trachoma infection that leads to blindness. AmeriCares also donates specialized surgical kits to surgeons in Ethiopia, Senegal, Malawi and Niger. Simple surgery prevents blindness by reversing the effects of the infection.
Excellence in Health Worker Safety
When one health care worker gets sick, thousands of patients can lose access to care. That's why AmeriCares is leading a three-year program in Tanzania to promote a Centre of Excellence for Health Worker Safety. The program helps protect health care workers against illness and injuries common in the hospitals, such as needle sticks and exposure to blood and body fluids. The program also increases awareness about infection control, personal and hospital hygiene and good health.

AmeriCares is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. AmeriCares Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 061008595.