According to a press statement issued by the National Coalition for Women Against HIV/AIDS and Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS, health professionals, including the director of the WHO, the AU, UN and US Department of State representatives and campaigning groups took part at a round-table meeting held in London on 24th February.  

Azeb attended the session held with the theme “Maternal mortality reduction strategies, national leadership in Africa” following an invitation by UK First Lady Sarah Brown. The invitation was aimed at sharing Ethiopia’s experience of a considerable new energy and commitment to improving maternal health.  

Azeb on the occasion outlined Ethiopia’s maternal health plan, built on three pillars: family planning, skilled care at birth and emergency obstetric care and highlighted Ethiopia’s celebration of Safe Motherhood Month in January, a nationwide campaign.  

She explained how, in order to help more women survive pregnancy and childbirth, Ethiopia rolled out a health extension worker program and has quadrupled the number of healthcare centers since 2005.  

She added that strategies to improve maternal health have included tackling broader cultural issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage. Great success has been possible through engaging with religious and community leaders. As an instance, FGM is now banned in the Afar region where it was once rife.  

Azeb also placed particular emphasis on the need to provide transportation for women who need to deliver at health centers or hospitals, in particular there is a great need for ambulances.  

Now that a vast network of roads has been built throughout Ethiopia, transportation is much improved and if ambulances were provided they could save many lives and make life more bearable at a time when women are at their most vulnerable, she indicated.  

First Lady of Rwanda Jeanette Kagame on her part highlighted the progress being made in Rwanda where 10.3 per cent of the national budget is now allocated to health, where villages are electing health workers focused on maternal health to educate communities, and where family planning use has increased to 27 percent.  

In a discussion with Azeb after the meeting, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation stressed how it had become clear to them during the meeting that the key for success was to support women health extension workers in Ethiopia and elsewhere, by developing their capacity and adding to their numbers.  

Ethiopian health extension workers make an invaluable and empowering impression on women as they go about their work and provide a positive role-model for girls and young women in their communities, where family planning coverage jumped from 14 percent in 2005 to 32 percent in 2008 largely as a result of their presence.