Ethiopiaid

Photo: Tsehiynesh receiving a check-up at a recently restocked health centre

Ethiopiaid would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to our Radio 4 Appeal, which raised an incredible £54,175. Thanks to the generosity of Radio 4 listeners, thousands of women in Northern Ethiopia are accessing safer childbirth support.

In communities where years of conflict have devastated health systems, childbirth is one of the most dangerous points in a woman’s life. Without access to midwives, childbirth complications can quickly become life-threatening for both mother and baby. But with your support, our partners are restocking health centres and training health professionals in maternal care. They’re also training Safe Motherhood Ambassadors to encourage safer maternal health practices for other women in their communities.

For women like Tsehiynesh, this outreach can be life changing. Four years ago, she went into labour during the six-hour walk to her nearest health centre and had to give birth on the roadside. Without medical assistance, she developed a retained placenta which required emergency response. When she became pregnant again this year, she wanted to do everything she could to give her baby a better start in life. Community outreach had helped her understand the importance of reaching care before labour began. This time, she arrived at a recently restocked health centre early, received close medical support, and safely gave birth to healthy twins. For Tsehiynesh, what had once been a terrifying emergency became a safe delivery, supported by trained health workers and vital supplies. Thanks to your generosity, more mothers in Northern Ethiopia can face labour with dignity and confidence.

To learn more about the change you’re making possible for mothers and babies, please visit our website here 

Thank you for helping make our Radio 4 appeal such a success, and for bringing hope to women like Tsehiynesh.