Ethiopia. MHF pledged an additional $200,000 to support the establishment of this new state-of-the-art facility, the only one of its kind in the southern region of Ethiopia.
An Important Partnership
The project’s main objective was, and remains, to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the region, while setting a new standard of excellence that could be replicated at other facilities. After some stops and starts, a partnership agreement was signed in June 2022 between Bushulo, Caritas Vorarlberg, MHF and the International Fistula Alliance (IFA).
Prenatal Care Aims to Protect Health and Prevent Maternal Childbirth Injuries
Dr. Gemachew is busy attending to patients (see photograph of ultrasound procedure above) in the new outpatient department and overseeing “antenatal care” (ANC) services. In the first half of 2022, his department conducted over 1,000 ultrasounds to screen for fetal development, abnormalities and to anticipate and plan for any labor and delivery issues.
Preparations to move the operating theatre, labor and delivery and inpatient services to the new building by April 2023 are well underway, including:
- Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the new building
- Staff recruitment and training.
- Minor modifications to building and room layouts.
- Procurement of equipment, both local and international.
- Procurement of fitted furniture.