Ethiopia Committed to End Preventable Maternal, Child Deaths by 2035

President Mulatu Teshome said Ethiopia is committed to ending all preventable maternal and child deaths by 2035.

 While addressing the fourth ACTING on the CALL conference opened in Addis Ababa, the guest of honor, President Mulatu Teshome said Ethiopia has been a leader in the global effort to save the lives of women and children.

 “We have implemented successive health sector development plans in which the country has made huge stride in improving access to health services and improvements in health outcomes”, he said.

 “Ethiopia’s health indicators have been remarkably improved from one of the worst in Sub Saharan Africa to amongst the best performers in just two decades,” he said.

 

The country achieved the MDG goal related to child mortality in 2012, three years ahead of the deadline by reducing under five mortality by two third and cut infant and newborn mortality in half, he indicated.

Maternal mortality has also decreased by 72 percent, three points shy from the goal.

The President attributed the success to the country’s flagship health extension program, huge public investment on the sector and support of development partners.

Despite the impressive progress made so far, Ethiopia still has high rates of maternal and child morbidity and mortality from preventable causes, he added.

The quality of health care in terms of improving patient safety, effectiveness, and patient centeredness in both public and private facilities, is of crucial importance to stop preventable deaths.

“No community, no households, and no individuals should be denied access to essential health services because of their income, gender, and geographic locations. Ensuring equity remains to be the priority for all accountable and responsibly political leadership,” he said.

High-level policy makers and influencers from 25 countries such as health ministers, representatives of international organizations, NGOs, faith-based organizations, civil society and the private sector convened on the conference.

The major objectives of the conference included highlighting successful approaches to increasing the use of high-impact reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health interventions with equity, quality and sustainability.

The meeting will build upon the three previous Call-to-Action/ Acting-on-the-Call Conferences, specifically recalling the commitment made at the 2015 meeting in New Delhi.

source ena