Since the past two plus decades, Ethiopia has been registering notable results in terms of improving the health and wellbeing of women and infants.By devising strategies that can promote the health and wellbeing of women and children such as reducing the rate of child marriage and harmful practices, expanding access to utilization of maternal and infant health services,(basic and emergency obstetric and newborn care), deploying health extension workers across the country and sensitizing the importance of family planning among the communities, the country can markedly cut the rate of maternal and newborn mortality.
Enabling almost half of women, especially those living in rural areas, to visit health facilities during pregnancy and giving birth in health centers assisted by health practitioners, having some knowhow about the importance of family planning and showing interest to utilize the methods among women who were reluctant can also be mentioned as successes that contribute a lot in minimizing the risk of death owing to complications that may come to happen during delivery.
As documents indicate, since the past two plus decades, Ethiopia has reduced maternal and child mortality by half. Unfortunately, despite the progresses, maternal mortality rate of 412 per 100,000 live births and child mortality rate of 67 per 1,000 are still too high; and remain challenges.
However, according to Ministry of Health, access to family planning services for all is a viable tool to reduce maternal and newborn mortality by 30 to 40 percent.
At a discussion forum held recently at Dire Dawa Town, with regard to improved access to family planning, Health State Minister Dereje Duguma said that expanding and making family planning accessible at the desired level; and quality,can have important effects in reducing maternal and newborn mortality rate by 30 to 40 percent,reported ENA.
Mentioning that each year more than3.1 to 3.5 million babies are born in Ethiopia and the economy is not build up in a manner endure the newly born generations,the State Minister said that, however, by minimizing the number of families, it is possible to create productive citizens and build a prosperous nation.
In this regard, the success that the Dire Dawa City Administration has scored relating to increasing the rate of family planning service from 38 percent to 42 percent in this Ethiopian budget year is a laudable experience, he said.
The State Minister also urged health professionals to work determinedly and committedly to improve service quality.
Dire Dawa City Administration Mayor, Kedir Juhar on his part said that the Administration is providing the necessary financial support to make the family planning service accessible.
He said access to a better Ethiopia family planning service is an option.
“To build a better Ethiopia, expanding access to improved family planning is a matter that has no other option,” Kedir underscored.
At the discussion forum, the Dire Dawa City Administration offered trophies and certificates to those entities who have contributed share to the success of the family planning service in the current Ethiopian budget year.
Although the rate of maternal deaths is demonstrating significant decline in each year, even these days out of 100,000 mothers,401 die due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, according to report from the Ministry of Health.
It is recalled that last December, the Ministry,targeting to curb mothers’ death rate by 2030and secure their lives, has launched a document that it believes support to access improved family planning services throughout the country.Concurrently, a target is also designed to decrease the rate of pregnancy among females who are under 18; from the current rate of 13 percent to three percent. What is more, it is planned to raise the rate of access to contraceptives by 2030from 17 to 22 percent by accessing family planning service to those who aspire to have it; but unable to use it for different reasons.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald 25 June 2022
