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ister Beliyu Shale is a nurse at Sagure Health Center in Arsi Zone of Oromia region. She has been serving in the health center for more than ten years. SIn the past four years, she has been providing family planning (FP) services after she received training from USAID’s IFHP. The training she took focused on intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCDs) which prevents pregnancy for up to 12 years. Before this training, no staff could provide IUCD when women demanded the service at the health center. Sr.Beliyu says “…previously, none of us had the skill to insert or remove IUCD. So, the contraceptives we provided were limited to implanon, injectable, pills and condoms”. With the financial and technical support from USAID, IFHP trained at least two staff at each health center in Digalo Tijo Woreda, one of which is Sagure Health Center. The training helped health centers expand the reach of FP beyond the health center. “The trained health workers are not limited to facility based services. They also give back up support to health posts to reach women with contraceptives that can’t be provided by health extension workers.” said Abayneh Tesfaye, head of Digalo Tijo Woreda Health Office. “….because of the intensive backup support to health posts from health centers, utilization of IUCD is improving steadily.” Abayneh added. In the year 2010, only 57 clients were on IUCD, However, last year alone, 1,431 women received IUCD services in the woreda. Behind each woman that received the IUCD service, there is a story, a unique story of change for the better. One of these women is Constable Addis Ashime. She received IUCD services from Sr.Beliyu. The 25 years old policewoman said “My job as a policewoman puts me on duty during evenings and holidays. I already have a one year old child. My husband, also a policeman, works in another town, some 75 kilometers away from here. So taking care of our child is a challenge leave alone having another baby. So, I decided to take IUCD to delay my next pregnancy”. Similarly, IFHP has trained more than 1200 health workers in IUCD insertion and removal in over 770 health centers across Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and Southern Nations and Nationalities Region of Ethiopia. olomon Demiss was born and brought up in Kuye, a tiny village near SDebaytilatgen Woreda of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara region. He lost his mother when he was one year old. His father, an illiterate peasant, had a small plot of land to support his family. With three brothers and a sister, Solomon, 24, is the second from the last among his siblings. He is now a 4th year student of Materials Engineering at Adama Science and Technology University. The tragedy that changed his life happened when he was twelve years old. With only few days of illness, he found himself paralyzed from the waist down. He lost strength in his legs and it became difficult to walk. But after two years of treatment, he was able to stand up and walk again with the support of a crutch. Since then, he has been struggling with all the hardship in life to attend and complete his education. “My disability became the source of my strength. When I was in secondary school, I won a recognition award for my consecutive excellent school achievements from the Zonal Education Office” he recalls. Solomon’s father, the only breadwinner of the family, died and his last hope of getting good education seemed gone. The young boy, who was generally a good student, did miserably in the first year of college. He got low grades. “My father was the only support I had. Life became tough and bitter. I lost support to continue my education” Solomon said. Fortunately, it was when Solomon was in despair that he was spotted by IFHP. He received support as part of the initiative taken by voluntary IFHP staff members to help needy students at the University. He receives monthly pocket money and clothing from the staff receive the support, I made better grades. I owe contribution. my success to the wonderful people at IFHP” Solomon says. After sometime, Solomon’s grades started to improve steadily and became one of the top five students in Solomon is also serving as a peer educator for his batch. Because of this, the school has chosen him the Adolescents and Youth Reproductive Health to conduct his apprenticeship in a renowned steel Project of IFHP. “The peer group training made company in South Korea. “Only few students are a huge impact on my life because it changed given this opportunity because of their high scores” me quite a lot,” Solomon told us. “Before the He claims proudly. He has a passion to continue training, I was not comfortable to go out and mix his studies “I will continue my education until I with fellow students. But now, I have the self- reach PhD level. I am determined to be like one of confidence. I’m enjoying life – I have a good those famous researchers in the field. I want to be a network of friends” he reports proudly. professor” Solomon shares his plan. Currently, IFHP has over 100 trained peer Solomon gets short of words to thank IFHP’s staff. educators in Adama Science and Technology “If it were not for the fantastic people at IFHP, this University. would have never happened. From the day I started to or those living in the villages of Goro Gutu Woreda, West Hararghe Zone of Oromia region, health managers and other health workers, respectively. Fthe rocky terrain keeps healthy people fit but Health extension workers (HEWs) were trained to treat very difficult for the sick. Surrounded by many hills, uncomplicated cases of malaria at the community level. In streams and a vast area covered with plantations, it addition, they worked hand in glove with the community in was difficult for local residents, specially mothers malaria prevention. The HEWs taught the community about and children, to reach health facilities for treatment malaria prevention that included draining of water pockets, of illnesses such as malaria. Those who manage to use of bednets and in case of a fever, the need to seek reach health centers arrive in serious conditions. immediate medical care. Each household in the community Of the 30 kebeles in the woreda, 23 of them are also received up to three bednets. malarious. In 2003, there were numerous malaria cases in the woreda. To make matters worse, the ‘’ All these efforts paid off’’ says Abdul Aziz, ‘’ …now, problem coincided with draught that resulted in food through the collaborative work of the woreda health office insecurity. “We had a very difficult time. Mothers and the community, the number of malaria cases has declined were unable to feed their sick children. Elderlies died sharply. If you look at the malaria statistics in the woreda, before reaching health centers” recalls Abdul Aziz the number of new cases reported four years ago was 350 Ibrahim, head of Goro Gutu woreda health office. but in the just ended fiscal year, only 10 malaria cases were reported to the woreda health office” he added. In 2010, the zonal health department with support from USAID’s IFHP, organized trainings on IFHP provides similar supports to malarious woredas in epidemic management and malaria treatment for Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and SNNP regions of Ethiopia. n the morning of Thursday in the month of vaccinated are healthier than those who are not.” August, in a small open space outside of the immunization room of Sagure Health Center, IFHP in collaboration with the Regional Health I Bureau of Oromia trained Sr. Adanech and her a group of women sat under a tree shed with their babies on their laps waiting for vaccination. Sr. colleagues on Expanded Program of Immunization Adanech Gizaw, a nurse at the health center, checked (EPI) and Integrated Management of Newborn and the vaccination status of each baby on the yellow Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI). Healths Extension cards the women carried with them. She wrote Workers have also been trained in EPI as well as the vaccines each baby was eligible for the day on Integrated Community Case management (ICCM) the card and gave injections and polio droplets to which has enabled them provide vaccination as well the babies. Before the mothers left, she explained as treatment services for sick children, respectively. possible side effects and the appointment dates for the next immunization. “Seeing the deaths among unimmunized children during outbreaks and knowing those who survived Amidst the crowd of women was Jamila Nemo, a had been immunized, the local community has now 19 year old mother, with her nine month old baby. recognized the importance of immunization,” says Jamila came for the final vaccination for her baby Abayneh Tesfaye, head of Digalo Tijo Woreda Health after which she would be awarded an Immunization Office. “IFHP’s technical support and training of Diploma. Jamila has known the importance of the health center staff and health extension workers immunization for her baby and made her baby has greatly contributed to these changes” Abayneh receive all the vaccinations before its first birth day. concludes. Jamila explains, “Health extension workers in my kebele have taught me that immunization protects So far, IFHP has trained 6,121 health workers and children from many diseases. Children who are HEWs in EPI, IMNCI and ICCM in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray and SNNPR. maru Ketema is a 22 year old woman who lives in one of the Aremote kebeles of Yayagulele woreda of Oromia region. When she was nine months pregnant and started to have contractions, she told her husband, Abraham Girma, to take her to Fetal Health Center.

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