HARAMAYA, Ethiopia — The Ethiopian Midwives Association (EMwA), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has finalized a major upgrade to the Maternity Waiting Home (MWH) at the Karodada Health Center in the East Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region.
EMwA invested more than 1 million Ethiopian birr (ETB) to procure over 36 categories of essential equipment and supplies. The contribution includes furniture—such as beds, mattresses, blankets, linens, shelving, and dining sets—alongside household appliances including smart televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators. EMwA also provided an initial supply of food to ensure immediate service start-up.
Maternity Waiting Homes are specialized residential facilities located adjacent to medical centers. They allow pregnant women, particularly those from remote rural areas or those with high-risk pregnancies, to stay near a facility during their final weeks of gestation. By placing expectant mothers within immediate reach of professional care, MWHs effectively eliminate geographic delays in accessing skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care, significantly lowering maternal and newborn mortality rates.
The upgraded facility was officially handed over to local authorities during a ceremony on May 29, 2026. The event was attended by officials from the East Hararghe Zonal Administration, the Haramaya Woreda Administration, local kebele leaders, community representatives, and health center management, alongside EMwA and UNFPA project focal persons.
During the handover, regional stakeholders emphasized that well-equipped, comfortable, and culturally appropriate waiting homes are critical to encouraging institutional deliveries, improving regional birth outcomes, and advancing national efforts to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal morbidity.
