Delivering Care Where It Matters Most: Gates Foundation’s Mobile Health and Surge Team Support Driving Life-Saving Impact for Deprived Communities in Tigray and Somali Regions (Ethiopia, 2026)

In response to conflict, drought, and displacement in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Somali regions, Save the Children and the Gates Foundation implemented Alternative Care Models (ACMs), including Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams, Surge Teams, and Outreach Services, to restore essential health care. A mixed-methods evaluation found that ACMs significantly expanded service coverage, improved maternal, child health, and nutrition outcomes, rehabilitated damaged health facilities, and delivered cost-efficient care in fragile settings. The findings demonstrate that flexible, community-based service delivery can effectively bridge healthcare access gaps during humanitarian crises while strengthening health system resilience.