Addis Ababa, January 14, 2025 (FMC) – Ipas Ethiopia in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Government of Canada through Global Affairs (GAC) launched a seven-year project aimed at empowering women and girls, as well as reaching a total of over six million community members in five regions of Ethiopia Namely Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Oromia, Tigray and Benishangul Gumuz regions, that are under served in sexual reproductive health (SRH) services.
State Minister of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dereje Duguma, Ambassador of Canadian Embassy in Ethiopia, Joshua Tabah and representatives of Ipas Ethiopia attended the launching ceremony.
Fully funded by Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to be implemented from June 1st 2024 to May 31st 2031, this initiative, titled “improving Access to Reproductive Health Information and Services to the communities in five regions of Ethiopia” seeks to address critical gaps in SRH information, access, and services, ultimately empowering women, girls and communities at large to make informed decisions about their health.
In his opening remarks on the launching of the project, State Minister of Health, Dr. Dereje Duguma, underscored the need to foster partnership with stakeholders to address challenges in sexual and reproductive health sphere and strengthen the health system.
Demeke Desta Country Director at Ipas Ethiopia, for his part, said that, “This project is designed not only to provide essential resources but also to foster an environment where women and girls feel safe and supported in discussing their SRH needs.”
“With rising concerns and needs surrounding sexual and reproductive health, it is imperative that we take decisive action to inform and serve communities,” he noted.
Dr. Demeke added that, “with this project we aim to reach these women and girls with SRH information and services they desperately require and invite community members, stakeholders, and partners to join us in this essential journey toward better health for all.”
With certain group of individuals including rural women and young people, people with disabilities, migrant women working in factories and sexual and gender-based violence (SGVV) survivors as the main targets. The project will reach 1.13 million women and girls with comprehensive abortion care (CAC) and contraceptive care (CC) services, 5.5 million community members with indirect benefits and 2,450 health workers with capacity building, and 450,000 community members with SRH education and linkage with health facilities for services, it was stated on the occasion.
The project targets marginalized communities and girls working in industrial parks and other segments of the community.
The Ministry of Health, regional health bureaus, and local CSOs will be the main Stakeholders in the implementation of this project to ensure inclusive and sustainable SRH interventions.