Partnership of Addis Ababa University and EngenderHealth in Reproductive Health

Translated and reprinted with permission from the Addis Zemen newspaper.

EngenderHealth is a New York based not-for-profit international organization that is working to expand family planning and reproductive health services to people in various developing countries. In Ethiopia, the organization has been supporting various development activities in the areas of family planning, HIV prevention and in improving the lives of people since 1987.

During its more than two-decade partnership and work in Ethiopia, the organization has enabled a lot of people to benefit from its services.

In the regions and city administrations it operates, EngenderHealth has, among other things, supported the efforts to provide information on HIV prevention and strengthened HIV counseling services. Moreover, it has accomplished exemplary activities in providing training and counseling services that resulted in improving the quality of reproductive health and family planning services and making family planning services accessible. It has contributed a great deal to make family planning choices available, alleviate norms of deep-rooted gender-based power imbalance, address the needs of the youth, and maintain the balance between population, health and natural resources.

The organization’s President and CEO, Pamela W. Barnes, is in Ethiopia to visit the major activities the organization is carrying out and to discuss with pertinent bodies future directions of cooperation and partnership.

The visit to EngenderHealth-supported reproductive health activities at Addis Ababa University was one of the items in her agenda.

Her organization has donated more than ETB 500,000.00 to improve the services of the various clinics at the university. Besides, the organization has been supporting efforts to expand reproductive health services, including HIV prevention.

After the President, Pamela Barnes, visited the EngenderHealth-supported clinic at the University main campus, students presented the various activities the clubs have accomplished through the support of EngenderHealth. Club leaders, the President and EngenderHealth Ethiopia staff deliberated on deliverables, outputs, challenges and the nature of future partnership and support from EngenderHealth.

During the discussion, it was pointed out that university students lack awareness on reproductive health and sometimes even if they are aware, they fall short of bringing about behavior change.

After the discussion, Pamela Barnes had the following to say about EngenderHealth’s activities in the University:

“University students need to have a better understanding of reproductive health issues. We should, therefore, expand reproductive health awareness creation mechanisms and services to club members and other students through the clubs that students join according to their interest.

“EngenderHealth has supported the clubs and students to benefit from reproductive health services. Club leaders have told us that EngenderHealth support has made a difference and a large number of students have benefited from the services.”

Pamela Barnes has said that information and services on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health need to be expanded because several university students are exposed  to various social problems due to lack of awareness.

Concerning the clinic at Addis Ababa University, Pamela Barnes remarked, “I have seen several clinics in various countries. The Addis Ababa University Clinic is a very good one. It is a comprehensive clinic. Students can access all kind of services they need in the clinic.”

Student Mesay Worku is the Vice President of the Main Campus Female Students Club. She says, “In the past, a number of students used to be raped, get pregnant, drop out of the university, get dismissed from the university and have abortions. Although these practices haven’t been eliminated altogether, my club, supported by EngenderHealth, has been able to make a difference in the lives of a considerable number of students. A large number of female students have been sensitized about AIDS, reproductive health, unwanted pregnancy and openness in sexual issues through question and answer, discussions and other participatory methods.”

“As the result of our achievements,” Mesay pointed out, “there is now a growing culture of seeking advice from club leadership when girls are sexually harassed or when they face other social problems.”

Besides, Eve magazine, which saw print last year through the support of EngenderHealth, has contributed a lot in raising awareness of girls and all campus students in general. The magazine deals with a wide range of social issues. The 2nd edition of the magazine will soon be out with the financial support from EngenderHealth.

Wosen Bayu, the founder and President of University’s Life Talk Show says, “There were times when the University talk show and discussion forum could not be conducted for want of support. Since last year, however, the show has not been interrupted thanks to the technical, financial and training services provided by EngenderHealth.”

According to Wossen, “The Show has been conducting various discussions and consultations on HIV, reproductive health and other related issues. EngenderHealth has provided the necessary support. Not a few of students have developed the culture of open discussion on HIV, abortion, unwanted pregnancy, peer pressure, unethical practices and other social issues.”

The University Students Council President, Yibltal Teshager, commented, “Students who come from rural areas are more affected by reproductive issues and the Students’ Council is facilitating partnership of  clubs with various organizations to address the issue.  Although a lot has been done, the problems of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health are far from over,” he said.

Student Adbaru Yigrmal is the chair of the visually impaired club and he expressed his dissatisfaction at the current practice of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health awareness raising schemes. According to him, “Most practices currently do not address the needs of disabled students.” He, therefore, called upon club leadership and NGOs like EngenderHelath to make reproductive health services and awareness raising activities not only to be responsive to the needs of the disabled but also involve disabled students so that they can take their reproductive health issues into their hands.”

This article has been translated from Amharic. The original version is available as a PDF (292KB).