GAVI commends HEWs impact in promoting health, empowering girls

Addis Ababa, April 17, 2023 (FBC) – Health extension workers in Ethiopia have had a measurable impact on interconnected challenges such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and school dropout, according to GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance.

The Vaccine Alliance’s recent study findings revealed that Ethiopia has made significant progress in supporting gender equality and girls’ empowerment. Rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy have decreased substantially. Access to sexual and reproductive health services has increased. There has also been progress in the education sector. School attendance rates at all levels have risen, and the gender gap in enrolment is narrowing.

GAVI’s report noted that Ethiopia is one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world. Gender equality is critical for enabling young people to reach their full potential. Achieving this will require addressing gender attitudes and norms that are linked to early marriage and childbearing, and are a barrier to girls’ education.

The country has a national community health programme which aims to increase the availability of basic health services and promote healthy lifestyles. To do this, it uses community outreach activities, including household visits. Policymakers have been keen to understand more about its impacts on adolescent health and well-being as this could guide further efforts to improve the programme.

Although the programme focuses primarily on disease prevention and health promotion, GAVI’s study findings suggest that household visits from health extension workers have had a measurable impact on multiple interconnected adolescent challenges beyond just health.

It is to be remembered that the health extension programme in Ethiopia was introduced in 2003. The health extension workers promote routine medical check-ups at the local health post. They also use door-to-door household visits to educate families around health issues including family planning, youth reproductive health and child marriage.

According to the Vaccine Alliance, the national community health programme has become a flagship intervention.