Dear Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the FMOH and Ethiopian Health, Nutrition and Research Institute for taking this initiative to collaborate with WHO in this implementation research platform.

The attainment of the MDGs, especially the health related ones, needs a focused action targeting the most vulnerable segment of the population who are women and children. In our continent, especially in sub Saharan Africa, many women and children die annually needlessly due to lack of access to essential and emergency Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) services. Although there are great efforts on this aspect, the progress towards achieving the MDGs 4 and 5 is still lagging behind.

In the African Region, on average only 47% of mothers access skilled delivery services and 12% of mothers in need of emergency obstetric services receive it. Based on this data, the need of focused and accelerated services expansion for women is required.

The progress towards achievement of the MDG 4 in Ethiopia is encouraging in reducing under five and infant mortality ratios (88 & 59 per 1000 live births respectively according to the EDHS 2011). However, the progress in reducing Neonatal mortality is lagging behind and we need to focus on availing emergency neonatal care services to the grass root level.

The progress towards MDG5 is also unsatisfactory with maternal mortality ratio of 676 deaths per 100,000 live births (EDHS 2011). This shows us there should be a great effort to increase access to ANC, skilled delivery and post natal care services and also increase access to FP services.

This implementation research platform is intended to identify the main bottle neck challenges for attaining MDG4 and MDG5 and identify ways for scaling up service implementation for reducing the high burden of maternal, new-born and child mortality and morbidity. The Implementation Research Platform Initiative (IRP) aims to bring together policy makers, programme managers and national experts to work with countries to assist teams to develop research proposals that address priority questions to accelerate progress towards MDGs 4 and MGD 5.

The collaboration also aims to achieve major improvements to address challenges in speeding up the pace to meet MDGs 4 and 5. It will also boost capacity related to implementation research through the technical support provided to research institutes and researchers.

I encourage all policy makers, program managers and researchers to use this five days workshop as platform to prepare the implementation research proposals and to take the initiative one step ahead.

Finally, I would like to affirm WHO’s continued support and commitment to ensure Ethiopia’s progress to realize the improved health status of women and children in line with the MDGs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With these few remarks, I wish you very successful discussions and deliberations over the next five days while wishing you enjoyable stay in Bishoftu.

I thank you!