Scaling up Maternal and Child Healthcare in Amhara (Implementation Phase)

Every year in Ethiopia 25,000 mothers die and 400,000 more suffer long-term disabilities due to complications during pregnancy delivery or postpartum period. The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is estimated at 676 per 100,000 live births in 2011 indicating no further improvements were realized in the past 5 years. The neonatal mortality rate -evidently much related to the MMR- also hardly showed signs of the desired decrease. Amhara has a high population density even in rural areas. As poverty and healthcare infrastructure limitations are most pronounced in the rural sector the project focuses on two zones of the Amhara Region: West Gojam and South Wello. Direct beneficiaries of the project will include women of child bearing age in general and pregnant women in particular as well as their children and families. The project will include the following three interdependent components:- Operating theatres for Caesarian sections and general surgery labs wards staff housing and maternity homes and basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care equipment, provision of water and electricity as required, means of transport for health care staff and possibly mobile outreach facilities, maintenance during 7 years,- In-service and where necessary pre-service training of health staff on Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal care other essential Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services health service quality improvement and Leadership / Health System Management,- Advocacy communication and social mobilization to stimulate health seeking behavior in general and that of pregnant women in particular, sensitization especially of girls and young women on adolescent pregnancy risks including that of fistula.