Access to Maternity Care Services

Despite the high number of deaths due to child birth,  related to preventable or treatable conditions like infectious diseases and complications during pregnancy-, an increasing number of women are giving birth in health facilities. This helps to  significantly reduce the risk of fatal complications during delivery and is showing encouraging outcomes in lowering maternal and child mortality rates.

“I am full of joy. Ferusa is beautiful, healthy and so strong,” said Fatuma, who gave birth to her baby Ferusa at Metie Health Centre which has a newly renovated maternity ward where mothers in this community near Kombolcha, in Amhara region, can safely deliver babies.  “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 having the right support.

“Being a mother gave me a great feeling that I never had before. I am really grateful to the health workers for their keen care and support. I am committed to ensure that my child gets a good education so that she becomes a teacher and serves her community.” Berhane Berasa is extremely happy to welcome her firstborn at Gebrekiristos Health Centre, a safe haven where compassionate care and exceptional support is provided to expecting mothers from the last days of pregnancy to their time of delivery. Berhane stayed in the maternity care for three days before giving birth.

"The health workers are exceptional. They provided excellent care for my wife, ensuring her well-being and relieving her from any worries and stress," says Yilikal Dagne, father of a newborn baby boy who was born at Bambasi Health Centre in the Benishangul Gumuz region.

When Amino’s baby was born, there was no sound of the baby crying. The baby had a slow heartbeat during the delivery and was not breathing. But thanks to health workers at Dunadumao Health Centre in the Somali region of Ethiopia, the baby was resuscitated. “I didn’t expect my baby to survive. I thought I was going to lose yet another baby. But this is just a miracle,”  says Amino, who later named her child Fraxan, which means happiness.

“As it is my first pregnancy, I was stressed but now I feel at ease because I am under the wonderful care of the health workers. They provide meals and check on my status frequently,” says Asnaku, who was 36 weeks pregnant from Dilla Ferera kebele (sub-district) in Shebedino town and it has been three days since she was admitted into the maternity care centre at Gebrekiristos Health Centre having labour-like symptoms and a potential to deliver soon.

For Fatuma Mohammed who lives in Afar region, having a boy after trying for years was a life-affirming moment. But soon after birth, her baby, Mohammed, was struggling with a fever and cough, a typical sign of pneumonia. Thankfully, a trained community volunteer identified Mohammed’s condition during a regular house visit and immediately referred him to a nearby health centre, Decheto Health Center, where he receives medication to treat  pneumonia, and a report is compiled so community volunteers can follow up at home. Mohammed is feeling much better, and is smiling again.

Expanding access to health care services and ensuring mothers and newborns receive the necessary care is essential for improving maternity and newborn care in Ethiopia.