Save the Children in Ethiopia marks 300 days to MDG deadline

The EVERY ONE campaign in Ethiopia, marked the 300 Days left to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets in JigJiga, nearly 600 km east of Addis Ababa. The day was celebrated as part of a consultative workshop that was organized to discuss challenges and opportunities for improving maternal, newborn and child health of the Ethiopia Somali Regional State.

Speaking at the event which focused on MDGs 4 and 5, Ethiopia, Somali Region Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Head, Oumer Mailing Ali pledged to closely work with relevant stakeholders to make further progress in reducing preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality.

Oumer expressed his Region’s commitment to address the multifaceted challenges, including poor infrastructure, weak logistics (supply chain management) and lack of awareness and trained health workers facing the area.

“We would focus on accelerating interventions tailored to the context of regions and communities in the region over the coming 300 days,” he said.

Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2011 shows that there are wide differences across different income groups and geographic areas in the country in terms of maternal, newborn, and child survival and health results. The survey also reveals that the Ethiopia Somali Regional State has still a higher rate of maternal, newborn and child mortality than the national average. According to the said survey, infant and under 5s mortality in the region, were 122 and 71 respectively, while the national average stood at 88 and 59.

In his statement delivered at the workshop, Tesfu Gessesse, Head of Communications and Campaigns at Save the Children in Ethiopia, said, “We should focus on addressing issues related to equity and quality of health care services while expanding access to those who need the services most.”

“Mothers and children who live in rural and pastoral areas as well as those who are in low income  groups should be reached with relevant lifesaving interventions to sustain the progress Ethiopia has already made,” Tesfu urged.

The event saw participants who represented local and international organizations like UNICEF, WHO and International Rescue Committee, regional parliamentarians, religious and community leaders as well as Save the Children staff.