Partners’ role crucial to address SRH needs of young people in disaster affected areas: MoH

Addis Ababa, March 10, 2023 (FBC) – Ministry of Health stressed the need to consolidate participation of partners to address sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in drought and conflict affected areas.

Senior Advisor for the State Minister of Health, Professor Sileshi Garuma said the coronavirus pandemic, the conflict in the northern part of the country and the recurrent drought in various parts of the country have negatively affected the efforts of the nation to achieve SDG goals in the health sector.

Addressing the 3rd Annual Conference of Consortium of Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA), Professor Sileshi indicated that the maternal and child health sectors has also been impacted by manmade and natural disasters particularly by the conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia.

He said Ethiopia has registered progressive results in reducing maternal and child mortality rate by more than 70 percent over the past two decades, lauding the role of partners in supporting the government’s efforts in the health sector.

Saying that the sexual and reproductive, maternal  and child health care needs are increasing in communities affected by both the manmade and natural disasters, Professor Seleshi highlighted the role of local and international partners in addressing the underlying problems in the vulnerable areas.

Executive Director of CORHA, Abebe Kebede, for his part, said the consortium is working hard to consolidate the role of civil societies in Ethiopia towards achieving the health sector goals put in place by the government particularly in the sexual and reproductive and maternal and child care areas.

CORHA is a member driven umbrella organizations of 77 foreign and local NGOs/CSOs committed to the provision of comprehensive, integrated and sustainable Reproductive Health (RH) information and services in Ethiopia