Due to a conflict
occurred in Northern Ethiopia since November 2020, Health facilities across
Amhara and Afar regions have been deliberately vandalized, destroyed and
equipment looted. The Ethiopian Minister of Health, Dr. Lia Tadesse, said in a
press statement on September 20, 2021 that 20 hospitals and 277 health centers
were practically made nonfunctional in the Amhara region alone.
Access to maternal
and newborn care services has suffered serious setbacks in conflict-affected
due to the critical shortage of skilled healthcare providers, medical supplies
and damage to health infrastructures. These obviously affect the service for pregnant
mothers to have antenatal checkup and forced them to have labor and deliver at
home. These increase the risk for mothers to develop obstetric fistula.
Hope of Light has
considered the impact of health facilities destruction on the incensement of
obstetric fistula incidence in the regions affected by the conflict. The organization has taken an action to
strength the safe delivery services as part of fistula prevention program. The
organization brings this issue to the awareness of partners that supports Hope
of Light. One of the main donors of HOL,
Ethiopiaid UK, responded for the call and it was possible to support the
following 10 health centers after signing MOU with Amhara Regional Health
Bureau (ARHB) and Ethiopian Society of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ESOG);
• From North Gondar Zone; Zarima Health
Centre, Dib Bahir Health Centre, and Adigagra Health Centre,
• From South Gondar Zone; Gassay Health
Centre, Kimer-Dingay Health Centre, Nefas-Mewcha Health Centre, and Checheho
Health Centre, and
• From Welkayit Tegede Setit Humera Zone;
Mar Wuha Health Centre, Akurarit Health Centre, and Emba-Gale Health Centre.
Hope Of Light