Education is the Sustainable Solution to Improving Maternal Health

By: Abel Tadesse, MHS (@Abel_says)

May 7, 2012

This coming Mother’s Day, most of us in developed countries will recognize the mothers we know in our lives. We will dedicate some time to order chocolate, flowers, or buy lotions filled with wonderful aroma. On the other hand, there are hundreds of thousands of mothers mainly in developing countries that go through many challenges in their path to become a mother. According to The New York Times article U.S. Lags in Global Measure of Premature Births, the premature birth rate shows a significant increase and it continues to grow. The article also references a collaborated report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), Save the Children and March of Dimes that highlights the staggering number of premature birth rates where more than 60% of preterm births occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The number is frightening but it is crucial to realize the important elements needed to address this issue: expanded effort on awareness and education.  The rising number of 15 million preterm births leading to more than 1 million deaths worldwide needs special attention. This does not include preterm births in areas where there is no defined tracking process or those deaths in rural areas of developing countries. Global organizations such as World Health Organization agree that the 75% of the deaths can be prevented with cost-effective care. 

This may be one element to address this issue; however I strongly believe the problem can be more effectively solved, such as implementing access to educational programs such as Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI)’s Midwives Scholarship Fund. The organization is aiming to increase the number of midwives by working with the Hamlin College of Midwives (HCM) in Ethiopia. HCM focuses on selecting students from rural Ethiopia to complete a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. Upon completion and proper licensure through the Ministry of Health, the midwives are placed back to their communities to care and educate mothers, children and their families providing holistic pregnancy care.

This is the sustainable kind of effort that we in the developing world need to focus on as it is long-term solution that improves maternal-child healthcare, including preterm birth complications and death.

Support the Midwives Scholarship Fund us by making a donation today.

Abel Tadesse, MHS, is the Director of Project Development at the Ethiopian Global Initiative.  

Bridging the Gap: EGI Working to Reverse the Brain Drain

By: Rose Goldich (@rosie_hg)

March 11, 2012

Ethiopia lost 75% of its skilled workforce between 1980 and 1991.

The phrase “brain drain” is nowhere near new to Africa. Over the past 30 years, many African countries have lost their trained and skilled professionals. Many people leave the continent to receive higher education and better jobs in other areas of the world. This creates the deficit of educated professionals, such as physicians and scientists, in areas of the world that need them the most.

There is more than just the physical loss of people leaving Africa. The loss of professionals is greatly affecting the health and economic development of countries in Africa. For example, because many Africans are going abroad to become doctors, 38 out of the 47 African countries are falling short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regulation to have 20 doctors per 100,000 civilians. This creates a severe shortage in the amount of people able to get medical attention. Also, Africa’s scientific output has slightly decreased. There are more African scientists and engineers in the United States than on the whole continent. 

With the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s U.S. College Students for Ethiopia (USCSE) program, every summer chosen applicants are sent to Ethiopia to serve as interns with local, Ethiopian-led organizations, ranging from community health organizations to micro financing institutions. Essentially, USCSE aims to reverse the brain drain by bringing talented and skilled students back to Ethiopia, in order to get Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians alike interested in increasing Ethiopia’s opportunity for success. The program aims to “tackle the shortage of a skilled and educated workforce in Ethiopia” by bridging the “access gap”, “creating an “environment for volunteerism and community engagement”, and raise the “consciousness of service to Ethiopia”. 

EGI encourages new professionals to go to Africa as well as those who have earned their degrees abroad to return and help people understand the necessity of skilled professionals.  As much as new ideas are helpful, those who have seen and experienced the needs of a country can also bring interesting solutions to the table. The brain drain is a multi-faceted problem that cannot be solved overnight. USCSE is making college students—future professionals and leaders—aware of the changes that need to be made in order for countries like Ethiopia to become successful.  

Rose Goldich is studying International Relations and Economics at Clark University and is the Social Media Intern at Ethiopian Global Initiative. 

Salute Women by Improving Maternal Health

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By: Samuel M. Gebru (@SMGebru) and Zewdy Awalom (@Zewdy)

March 8, 2012

Today is International Women’s Day, an opportunity for us to celebrate the women worldwide making a positive impact to our families and communities. A United Nations-recognized political awareness holiday, International Women’s Day is aimed at giving attention to the political, economic and social struggles women in our world still face while also celebrating their vast achievements.

Dedicating a day for women reminds us of the challenges women endure and the strength they have. On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2012, we would like to focus on the urgent necessity of our world to focus on improving maternal health.

One third of all births take place at home without the assistance of skilled birth attendants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 536,000 women die annually due to the lack of proper maternal healthcare. Over 3 million stillbirths and 3.7 million newborn deaths occur each year. Tragically, 99% of these maternal and child deaths occur in developing countries like Ethiopia and the vast majority of these deaths are preventable.

At the Millennium Summit in 2000, 192 United Nations member states, including Ethiopia, adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, pledging to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject poverty and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.” Improving maternal heath, the fifth goal of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), includes achieving universal access to reproductive health.

Quality maternal health services are fundamental to achieving successful births. In developing countries, where the urban-rural divide is greater, rural women have even less access to proper maternal health resulting in even more deaths.

These largely preventable tragedies must be addressed through improving the quality of and expanding the access to healthcare and education. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), over 25,000 women die annually due to pregnancy-related complications in Ethiopia. More than 500,000 women suffer annually due to complications caused by pregnancy and childbirth.

The Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI) is committed to improving maternal healthcare. EGI’s Midwives Scholarship Fund aims to fully fund the education of eight students at the Hamlin College of Midwives (HCM) in Ethiopia, a local private college accredited with the Ministries of Education and Health. HCM’s four-year programs grant students a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. At the core of HCM’s work is the prevention of childbirth complications and deaths through education.

63% of illiterate young people globally, about 86,310,000 people, are women. Because many women are uninformed about their maternal health and legal rights these issues go unnoticed. By educating a new class of midwives in Ethiopia, HCM aims to improve the local healthcare workforce and keep Ethiopia’s human capital in country.

EGI aims to help women empower themselves. Educating women to become skilled midwives and deploying them to rural Ethiopia preventing childbirth complications and deaths is an enormous task that requires your generosity and support.

Join us and celebrate women daily. No woman should suffer during childbirth. Donate today and share our message with your friends.

Samuel M. Gebru is the Chairman and President of the Ethiopian Global Initiative. Zewdy Awalom is an up-and-coming R&B singer whose voice has been compared to that of Beyonce Knowles.

Reducing Maternal Health Disparities

By: Bethel Tsehai, M.P.H. (@bethel_tsehai)
January 2, 2012

The most basic of human rights, the right to health and life, are greatly disproportionate in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Particularly in the area of maternal health, the number of preventable maternal deaths, stillbirths, newborn deaths, and birth related injuries are astounding. To put things into perspective, it is estimated that more than 500,000 Ethiopian women and girls will suffer from injuries caused by complications during pregnancy and childbirth each year.

The issue of maternal health is so great that improving maternal health is one of the Millennium Development Goals for 2015. In order to address many of the preventable birth and pregnancy related injuries and deaths, the World Health Organization recommends that countries work towards the goal of having skilled birth attendants, such as midwifes, who have received formal education in the area of pregnancy and childbirth be present at every birth.

The Hamlin College of Midwives in Ethiopia has taken this recommendation to heart and developed a program in midwifery. Unlike students attending vocational schools, the students of Hamlin College of Midwives will be given a formal education and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Midwifery. With a population of nearly 80 million in Ethiopia, there are only 1,000 qualified midwives. Despite this daunting challenge, the College is committed to educating midwives and equipping them with the tools needed to care for and educate women in the area of maternal health. 

The Midwives Scholarship Fund (MSF) project under EGI is working towards raising funds to support the education of at least eight midwives attending the Hamlin College of Midwives. Through supporting the education of midwives, MSF is taking part in becoming a part of the solution in maternal health.

In light of the holiday season, I encourage you to support our efforts by donating or raising funds to educate midwives. Well trained and skilled midwives are the key to reducing the disparities facing women in Ethiopia today.

Bethel Tsehai, M.P.H. is the Project Manager of the Midwives Scholarship Fund at the Ethiopian Global Initiative. 

Supporting the Women of Ethiopia

December 31, 2011

Dear friend,

I hope you are as excited as I am by what 2012 may bring for all of us. Wouldn't it be amazing for all women in Ethiopia to be guaranteed their right to safe childbirth?

This goal is already being undertaken at the Hamlin College of Midwives.

Our partners at Hamlin Fistula International have committed themselves to eliminate the number of women suffering from childbirth injuries by becoming the center for training, research, prevention and care of obstetric fistula. Maternal health is an important target that the United Nations set in the Millennium Development Goals for 2015.

Right now, you have an opportunity to be part of the world's vision for better maternal healthcare. We at EGI have committed to work with our partners at Hamlin Fistula International to fully fund the education of eight midwives at the Hamlin College of Midwives. By earning a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, these midwives will return to rural Ethiopian communities to prevent childbirth injuries and increase awareness, therefore saving millions of lives.

Instead of sending these students abroad, they are being taught in Ethiopia at a recognized institution of higher learning. Our Midwives Scholarship Fund's goal is to raise $140,000. Can I count on you to support the women of Ethiopia?

Please make a meaningful contribution today and close 2011 by helping send a midwifery student to college.

Best wishes this holiday season!

Sincerely,

Samuel Gebru
President, Ethiopian Global Initiative

Sending Students to Ethiopia is Worthwhile and Meaningful

EGI hosted a reception at the United States Embassy
in Ethiopia for USCSE 2011 participants.

By: Ryan Olivieri

December 30, 2011

It’s hard to believe that EGI’s U.S. College Students for Ethiopia (USCSE) is only entering its second year. The success and excitement of last year’s pilot program was so inspiring that USCSE has become one of EGI’s most popular and well-known initiatives.

However, it’s not hard to see why. USCSE’s mission, "to tackle the shortage of a skilled workforce in Ethiopia, build a culture of volunteerism within Ethiopia, and to foster communication between Ethiopians and the Ethiopian diaspora," is both worthwhile and meaningful.

Last summer’s interns were able to help further these goals while also gaining valuable work experience in fields they are passionate about with Ethiopian-led organizations. USCSE is a truly unique program in the sense that it allows college students from the United States to be part of a greater good, while also catering to their own personal interests.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of Ethiopia's transformation, then we want to hear from you. Apply or learn more about USCSE today!

Ryan Olivieri is Director of Communication and Marketing of the Ethiopian Global Initiative. USCSE 2012 applications are due January 13, 2012.

Hakuna Sundays: Boston Area Networking Mixer

Click on the photo to enlarge

Sunday, January 8, 2012 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm

Harvard Yard Starbucks

1380 Massachusetts Ave.

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Come attend the first Hakuna Sundays networking mixer of 2012 co-hosted by Africans in Boston (AiB) and the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI). Hakuna Sundays is an AiB bi-weekly networking mixer open for all students and professionals in the Boston area. Mingle with new and familiar faces while sipping on complementary Ethiopian coffee provided by Harvard Yard Starbucks.

More information and RSVP: action@ethgi.org or 1-617-528-9434