30 November 2004, Addis Ababa -- Today the World Health Organization Representative to Ethiopia Dr. Olusegun A. Babaniyi handed over two ambulances to Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the State Minister of Health, as part of the support WHO is providing to Making Pregnancy Safer (MPS) Initiative program being implemented by the Ministry of Health in four zones in Ethiopia. The two ambulances are in addition to the medical and laboratory equipment and supplies; and an ambulance that WHO has previously provided to the project. The cost of these two new ambulances is US$ 75,658 (ETB 653,685).

Ethiopia's maternal mortality rate, estimated to be 871 per 100,000 live births, is one of the highest in the world. Unsafe abortion, obstructed labour, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and above all lack of access to skilled attendant during pregnancy and delivery are the main causes of this tragedy. Other contributing factors include adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition and harmful traditional practices.

While antenatal care coverage is around 29 percent , skilled attendant, is even below 10%, and postnatal care coverage merely 6-7 percent. The majority of the maternal deaths are preventable through actions that are effective and affordable even in settings like Ethiopia where resources are limited. Although, poverty is an important factor in affecting health in general, experiences of other developing countries shows that if there is strong political commitment substantial reduction in maternal mortality can be achieved even in resource poor countries. Accelerated reduction of maternal mortality can be achieved by providing the community appropriate information regarding reproductive health and increasing accessibility of pregnant women to skilled attendant during delivery and emergency obstetrics care for complications.

In view of the poor status of maternal and new born health and the commitment of the Ethiopian government to improve the health of its citizens, Ethiopia has been included for pilot implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategy of Making Pregnancy Safer in the African Region. Accordingly, four zones namely, West Tigray, South Wollo, Arsi and Gedeo in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and SSNP regions respectively have been selected for implementing the MPS initiative.

The objective of the initiative is to implement a comprehensive safe motherhood program that would have an impact in reducing maternal and Perinatal mortality through community based interventions and access to emergency obstetrics care with the full involvement of the community in the selected four zones.

The major input of WHO in support of the initiative include capacity building in terms of training health professionals in emergency obstetric care, providing health facilities with medical and laboratory equipments and supplies and strengthening the referral system with ambulances and radio communication sets. There are also efforts for strong advocacy work to raise enough awareness of policy makers, and the public at large for generating support in the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality. WHO is supporting the program with manpower by employing and assigning a senior Obstrician/Gynecologist as a National Program Officer to provide the needed technical support (leadership) for the program. In line with the guiding principles of the strategy, WHO has been facilitating the development of partnership among interested agencies, Hence, there are good opportunities for enabling the MOH to mobilize resources for the expansion of the initiative to new zones. So far the contribution of WHO to the program in terms medical and laboratory equipment and supplies, ambulances and radio communication sets amounts to over US $300,000 (ETB 2, 592,000).

For Further information contact:

Dr. Kidane Gebre-Kidan, Tel: 52 89 24, cell-phone: 09/21 83 44

Ato Araya Demissie, Tel: 44 43 79, cell-phone: 09/25 08 30