The health of mothers and newborns in Ethiopia is often at risk, since many women do not deliver in hospitals or receive adequate pre- and postnatal care. ChildFund’s programs encourage mothers to deliver at hospitals, reducing the risk of maternal and infant mortality. By providing better access to safe water and educating communities on sanitation practices, ChildFund also helps to reduce the spread of communicable diseases in Ethiopia.
Village savings and loan groups, supported by ChildFund and its partners, empower caregivers and parents by improving their livelihoods and increasing household income. Members use the income generated to pay for food, school materials and medication for their children, and economically empowered women raise their voices at the household level, improving their leadership roles within the family. Our local partners also work with government elementary schools to share facilities for early childhood development programs.
During the widespread food shortage in 2015 and 2016, children under the age of 5 have received food supplements to stay nourished, and ChildFund has worked with other organizations and the Ethiopian government to make sure mothers and young children receive health monitoring when they are diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.