A high-level advocacy conference jointly convened by the Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF) and the South Omo Zone with the theme “Joint Efforts for Accelerated Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Development” was held in the Hamer and Bena-Tsemay woredas. The conference was hosted for two consecutive days from June 21 to 22, 2022 and was attended by senior government officials from the FDRE Ministry of Health, Women and Social Affairs, SNNPR Health Bureau, tribal leaders, community elders, and religious leaders.
The Foundation is supporting the development of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health programs in Ethiopia by focusing on the most underprivileged groups in the country, especially pastoral and semi-pastoral areas.
During the event, former First Lady of Ethiopian and CEO of the Hailemariam and Roman Foundation, H.E Roman Tesfaye, said: “We need to work in partnership with stakeholders, as well as potential individuals and institutions, because of the prevailing problems for mothers and children who are suffering from disease and death, and the situation is worse in pastoral districts. ”
H.E Roman further stated the HRF, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has provided capacity building trainings to health professionals on maternal, infant and child health in Bena-Tsema and Hamer pastoralist woredas of South Omo Zone this year. She also revealed that two ambulances and indeed the renovation of a total of six healthcare facilities for the two woredas are being procured.
In their key note addresses, the event’s stakeholders, represented from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and SNNPR’s Health Bureau, noted that in addition to the government’s planned initiatives, partner assistance is essential. In this regard, they highlighted HRF’s activities that are having an impact in the community and made a commitment to support the Foundation’s programs as needed.
Hailemariam & Roman Foundation
June 2022, South Omo Zone