Safe pregnancies and births and babies born free of HIV in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

26 March, 2018

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On February 28, the project “Improving maternal and child health at the St. Gabriel health centre“, whose objective was to reduce the mortality of children under 5 years of age and maternal mortality, and, in the same way, increase the number of babies born free of HIV in Akaki Kality Subcity (Addis Ababa), through the provision of quality preventive and curative health services, finished.

The project, of one year, has been financed by the Municipality of Majadahonda, and has been developed in consortium with the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commissions (ECC-SADCO), which manages the San Gabriel Health Center in the Ethiopian capital. From San Gabriel, health services are provided free of charge or at low cost to 45,000 people, vulnerable families with scarce resources, to access other health services.

In order to achieve the project goal of maternal and child health improvement, prenatal care quality programs (ANC – Antenatal Care) have been developed, including education in the care of mothers and children, in order to promote pregnancy and safe delivery ; programs for the prevention of transmission of AIDS from mothers to children (PMTCT), according to the standards of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia; postnatal services (PNC – Postnatal Care) for mothers; and Comprehensive Management of Infant and Neonatal Diseases (IMNCI) for children under 5 years of age, to monitor their growth and ensure that they do so in good health conditions.

Prenatal care for pregnant women, according to national standards, has included: laboratory tests (HIV); provision of iron supplement, vitamins and necessary medications; ultra sound tests during pregnancy to verify the development of the baby; provision of tetanus vaccines; or AIDS transmission prevention services.

With regard to children under 5 years of age, vaccination, free IMNCI services, laboratory analysis and administration of medications or admission and treatment of children with dehydration have been carried out.

Finally, for the centre’s patients and their families, education sessions on health and sexual health, and immunization campaigns have been held.

At the end of the project, the following achievements have been reached, exceeding those originally planned:

1,770 mothers have received prenatal care from trained midwives;
787 women have given birth attended by qualified health personnel;
787 babies have been born free of HIV / AIDS;
Anemia is prevented for 1,770 pregnant women;
1,770 women improve their knowledge about maternal and child health care.

Acquisition of specialized material and training for its use, which will help reduce maternal and infant mortality in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). © Miguel Lizana/AECID