The Federal Ministry of Health (MOH) has now reiterated its high commitment and leadership to the maternal and neonatal health in a more coordinated and integrated manner.

As part of the strategic plan to achieving the MDG 5 and 4, the Ministry is currently working with a11 key players in the health sector in dedicating the month of Tir 2002 EC (09 January – 07 February, 2010) as a Safe Motherhood Month in Ethiopia, under the slogan "No Woman Should Die While Giving Life".

In line with this efforts, Somali Regional Health Bureau giving the maternal and neonatal health in Somali region at the most top priority of time, has also participated the nation’s campaign and dedications’ of the Safe Motherhood Month as Tir 2002 EC (January 09 – February 07, 2010).

Somali Regional Health Bureau recognizes the need to secure the life of mothers and infants starting with high commitment and leadership; well coordinated and integrated manners; access to health services; ensured quality of the service; strengthening the health extension package services; social mobilization and sensitization session; information, education and communication activities (IEC); community participation; participation of all stakeholders and partners of the health sector in Somali region; all other possible efforts.

In Somali Region, many activities are implemented during this dedicated month, this include:

•Social mobilization at all levels
•Community mobilization sessions
•Panel discussions
•Radio and TV spots
•Mobile SMS mass massages of 100,000 mobile subscribers
•Slogans and banner and other IEC material distributions
•Strengthening service deliveries at all levels

As part of activities of the month, Regional Health Bureau organized and conducted on 20th Day of January 2010 in Jijiga town a well organized symposium on Safe Motherhood Month in Somali region”.

More than 300 participants were participated in the symposium. Three thematic areas were discussed in the gathering occasion: (a) the current status of the maternal and neonatal health in Somali region; (b) major problems and bottlenecks; (c) recommendations and ways to improve the health status of mothers and infants in Somali region.

In this month, the two e slogans selected for this occasion are:

1.    “ZERO TOLERANCE TO MOTHERS' DEATH”
2.    "NO WOMAN SHOULD DIE WHILE GIVING LIFE"

Omar Ahmed RN, HO
Team leader, Maternal and Youth Health Team
Somali Regional Health Bureau
31st January 2010, Jijiga - Ethiopia

Source: SRSINFO: