Every year, the month January, is marked as safe motherhood month to advocate and mobilize resources for increasing access to quality maternal health services. This year’s theme “No woman should die while giving life” raises awareness on preventable maternal and infant mortality in Ethiopia and advocates for increased deliveries at health facilities. A number of events are taking place throughout January to draw the attention of all Ethiopians to the importance of healthy pregnancy and motherhood. In Addis Ababa, more than 300 pregnant women come together at the Pregnant Mothers Conference on 13 January to share experiences and raise their concerns in getting access to maternal health services.

About 13% of women in Addis Ababa give birth in their home. “Safe motherhood is not only the concern of health workers, but the entire society,” said Honorable Alemtsehay Paulos, Deputy Head of Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau, at the Pregnant Mothers Conference. She encouraged all pregnant women in the city to give birth at a health facility: “no mother should die giving birth; our aim is zero home delivery in Addis Ababa.”

According to 2014 data, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of Ethiopia is 420 per 100,000 live births, taking the country closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goal 5 target of reducing MMR by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015. Nevertheless, maternal mortality remains a major challenge for the country and is high on the health agenda. WHO works with the Federal Ministry of Health to implement the 'Safe Motherhood Initiative', which has four pillars: Family Planning, Antenatal Care, Clean & Safe Delivery, and Essential Obstetrics Care. In Addis Ababa, WHO is supporting the City Administration Health Bureau to establish a Maternal Death Surveillance and Response System (MDSR) by training general practitioners on Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New-born Care (CEmONC) and through a midwifery mentorship programme to further strengthen maternal health services and reduce maternal mortality. More than 250 health workers have been trained by WHO on MDSR in Addis Ababa; currently the system is functional is 75 health centres and 8 hospitals in the capital city.

The Pregnant Mothers Conference in Addis Ababa was organized by the City Administration Health Bureau in collaboration with partners. Upcoming safe motherhood month activities include mass walk, blood donation campaign and panel discussion. Follow WHO Ethiopia Facebook and Twitter for more details.

For more information, please contact Dr Luwam Teshome, Evidence for Action project coordinator, a.i., WHO Ethiopia; Email: teshomel [at] who.int
 

Photos: WHO Ethiopia/ Viivi Erkkila