Offering the best possible start in life

Midwife Barnabas works at the Metie Health Centre which has a newly renovated maternity ward where mothers in this community near Kombolcha, Amhara region, can safely deliver babies.

“I am so happy with this new ward as the old one was very run down, and the majority of pregnant mothers were delivering their babies at home which is unsafe,” he said. “Marifa is about to give birth, and she is getting the care she needs. Since the ward opened, I have helped give birth to 10 healthy babies in the last 2 months. It makes me so proud.”

Fatuma gave birth to Ferusa earlier this month, and she said: “I am so full of joy. Ferusa is beautiful, healthy and so strong. The doctors and midwives really looked after me and I felt safe in this ward. Every mother should be able to deliver their babies in a hospital with all the right support.”

The community is also receiving comprehensive health services as part of the UK-funded Ethiopia Crises to Resilience Programme (EC2R), which focuses on vulnerable populations throughout the country and provides essential humanitarian assistance, including strengthening health systems, improved health services and the delivery of medical supplies. EC2R is a joint programme with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, REACH, UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

Health Extension Workers like Teba also provide outreach services to mothers through this initiative. Her dedication contributes to reaching zero-dose children and protecting them from preventable diseases. “I visit many households in the area to give vaccinations and explain the importance of immunization. It gives me such pleasure to know that I am safeguarding our children in the community from diseases” she said.

Baby Ilham is getting his first round of vaccinations. His mother Zadha said: “Teba made me feel not scared for Ilham, and I know this treatment will keep him well and protect him from getting sick.”

Partners in this initiative are grateful to the UK for providing this invaluable support with flexible funding so they can reach the people who need it the most, no matter where they are, to improve services, build resilience, and mitigate shock when disaster hits.