Since 2012, MSF has been running a mother and child healthcare project in Sidama Zone of SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region) in Ethiopia. MSF will, end of October 2014, hand-over the project to the Ministry of Health and regional authorities. MSF has mainly been working in the two Woredas (divisions) of Chire and Mejo.

In collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, MSF has been able to save the lives of large number of mothers and children as well as curbing preventable morbidities. Since the intervention began, more than 12,000 women benefited from Antenatal- and postnatal, over 2,000 pregnant women delivered in safe conditions and more than 1,500 children with complicated severe malnutrition were treated in the stabilisation centres in Chire and Mejo.

Child care has been a priority for MSF in Sidama since the inception of the project. 1,957 children under the age of 5 years old have been admitted and undergone specialised treatment in the inpatient service. Health staff from the woreda benefited from on-the-job training by MSF teams.