ADDIS ABABA— Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has successfully completed a project that was entitled: “Promoting Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) service in Arsi Zone of Oromia State with a budget of 10.63 million USD for five years.
In its press release sent to The Ethiopian Herald, KOICA stated that on 29 March, 2022, its Ethiopia Office participated and celebrated successful Completion of the Capacity Building component of one of the main integral activities of the project.
Since 2017, with close partnership with the Project Management Consultant Good Neighbors Ethiopia, the project successfully increased the number of births by trained personnel, created greater demand for family planning services, improved the quality of primary health centers and initiated community-based newborn management systems, the release added.
Postnatal visits have increased from 40% in the baseline to 81.9% in the end line, and antenatal visits have increased from 47.2% in the baseline to 61.5% in the end line and the percentage of expectants giving birth at health facilities have increased from 57% to 84.8%, indicates that health services are not only more accessible, but there is also greater awareness in the safety of giving birth under the supervision of trained personnel.
Moreover, over the course of five years, the project constructed maternal waiting centers in five woredas and implemented patient-based innovative system and management in health centers, focusing on empowering health extension workers, improving health systems through the provision of youth-friendly services and expanding programs on immunization vaccination, it said.
At the Completion Ceremony, Choi Hyejeong, Deputy Director of KOICA stated that: “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability, we have joined strength to come together under a common goal, proving the power of partnership and cooperation and praised the efforts of implementing partners and community members.”
Beyond completed the project, construction of a primary hospital is undertaking at Hitosa Woreda of Arsi zone and is expected to finish next year. Following the construction of such hospital, KOICA intends to strengthen sustainability and create greater synergy to improve local health infrastructure through awareness campaigns and procurement of hospital equipment.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2022
