Updates on Data Dissemination in Ethiopia

Following the 2024 country annual meeting in April, the Countdown Ethiopia Country Collaboration team, led by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, disseminated key analytical outputs. This effort aimed to inform stakeholders, influence policy, and improve health outcomes in Ethiopia.

The objectives of the engagement included mapping stakeholders, broadly sharing annual meeting analytical outputs for maximum impact, and exploring opportunities for future analytical collaborations at national and subnational levels.

Key Activities Undertaken by the Countdown Ethiopia team:

  • Discussion with the Joint Core Coordinating Committee (JCCC)
    In June 2024, the CECC team presented the Kigali CAM 2024 analytical outputs at a JCCC meeting, which included representatives from the Ministry of Health (MOH), USAID, UNICEF, and other health organizations. JCCC members expressed a keen interest in further collaboration and the potential to leverage this evidence for significant sector-wide impact.
  • The Data Week Event
    Organized by the Ministry of Health’s Strategic Affairs Executive Office, the Data Week event featured a presentation by the CECC team, titled “Ethiopia: Progressive Improvements Towards Universal Health Coverage and Equity in Maternal and Child Health Using DHIS2 Data.”

The event addressed key issues, such as data quality, regional coverage, equity, and health system performance related to maternal and newborn health. Participants emphasized strengthening collaboration and capacity-building activities.

  • Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Program Interventions
    On May 15-17, 2024, preliminary findings on the quality and equity of maternal and child health services were presented during a workshop hosted by the Ministry of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Executive Office. The analysis offered valuable insights into the country’s progress toward national and international targets.

Participants, including regional health bureau heads, highlighted the importance of finalizing and disseminating the results to regional and national partners, recognizing that these findings are vital to improving maternal, newborn, and child health (MCH) services across Ethiopia

  • Discussion with Ministry of Health Leadership
    On August 12, 2024, the CECC team presented their findings to the MOH management, including the Minister of Health, three state ministers, and all executive directors. The feedback was positive, with a recommendation to present the results at the upcoming Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting with senior MOH and regional health bureau leadership.

Key takeaways included the need to:

  • Finalize and share the narrative report with MOH.
  • Review results with MOH units, develop recommendations, and plan interventions.
  • Monitor and document changes over time.
  • Develop and implement a capacity-building plan.
  • Disseminate findings to regional health bureaus (RHBs) and other stakeholders.

In November the county collaboration team convened a workshop titled “Advancing Quality and Equity in RMNCH: Performance and Progress towards SDG-2030 in Ethiopia” at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in Addis Ababa. The workshop aimed to evaluate the coverage, quality, and equity of maternal and newborn health (MNH), family planning, and immunization services in Ethiopia, while promoting the use of routine health information system (HIS) data to inform decision-making. The event brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, including representatives from:  Ministry of Health, regional health bureau, regional public health institute, Ethiopian Statistics Services, USAID, WHO, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, civil society organizations such as Ethiopian Public Health Association, GFF/World Bank, and others. Participants engaged in presentations, group discussions, and reflections from the regional health bureaus on findings, result uptake, and experience-sharing sessions. The workshop highlighted critical challenges and provided actionable recommendations to strengthen RMNCH services, ensuring alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

This ongoing collaboration promises to strengthen Ethiopia’s maternal and child health systems, paving the way for more equitable and effective healthcare across the country.

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