Surma Health Project

Ethiopia

The Surma Comprehensive Rural Development Project grew out of problems caused by droughts in 1985 and 1988 in southwest Ethiopia, bordering on Sudan. Because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the region, the 27,000 Surma cattle herders or subsistence farmers had difficulty recovering from the effects of the drought. Their herds were depleted. Relocation of the farmers was attempted without success.

At the invitation of the Ethiopian Government, the Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) sent a survey team to the are in 1987 to determine relief needs. The EECMY in turn asked the PC(USA) to become a sponsor of the project and to provide the Rev. John Haspels as Project Coordinator, assisted by his wife Gwen, a registered nurse.  

The components of the project include agriculture, health, education, road building and water. The area was opened up by bulldozing 120 kilometers of road. Two gravity flow water systems and three hand dug wells have been completed. A clinic was constructed in 1994 and is administered by the project. A primary health program has been started but is not yet functioning well. In the years 1995-1997 a school was constructed and is run by the Ethiopian government. A veterinary clinic, also run by the government, has been constructed. For the years 1994-1997 demonstration gardens have been done to help diversify the Surma diet of corn and greens.  

If a third phase is granted by the Ethiopian government for Surma Project, it will include further water development, agriculture, expansion of the primary health work, further construction of buildings for the government, and literacy and Bible translation.  

In 1997 a Surma Church was begun with the baptism of 87 people. Leadership is being trained from among Surma people.  

The Surma Project is assisted by PC(USA) Extra Commitment Opportunity Funds account #862764.