Maternal and Child Deaths in Tigray Surge Fivefold Post-Conflict, Health Bureau Reports

Maternal and Child Deaths in Tigray Region Increase Fivefold, Report Reveals

The Tigray Regional Health Bureau announced that it has carried out various activities over the past six months of the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year. These include rehabilitating health facilities damaged during the conflict, capacity-building for professionals, ensuring mothers give birth in health facilities, and improving the quality of pre-natal, family planning, and youth-friendly services. This was stated by Ato Gebrehawariat Gebrekristos, coordinator of the Maternal, Child, and Youth Health Team at the bureau, in an interview with Bsrat Radio and Television.

According to the six-month performance review of the 2017 fiscal year, the health sector had shown good progress, and maternal and child mortality rates had decreased. However, Ato Gebrehawariat noted that in the years following the conflict, maternal and child mortality rates have increased fivefold. He explained that the primary reason for this increase is the destruction of health facilities and their delayed return to functionality. Additionally, many professionals who previously worked in both private and public health facilities in the region are no longer at their posts due to various reasons, exacerbating the problem.

The lack of adequate resources to provide comprehensive services in health facilities has also made it impossible to deliver full health services in the Tigray region at present. This has significantly contributed to the rise in maternal and child mortality rates, he emphasized.

Considering the shortage of ambulances, efforts are being made to facilitate access to vehicles for health facilities. Additionally, work is underway with stakeholders to ensure that ambulances, which are available but unable to operate due to fuel shortages, can access fuel and provide services. Ato Gebrehawariat Gebrekristos shared this information in his interview with Bsrat Radio and Television.

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