While these setbacks have devastated Ethiopia’s health care system, providers of sexual and reproductive health services know women still need these vital services, no matter the obstacles.
“We are saving lives and providing essential care to young women and communities,” says Yilfashewa Beyene, an Ipas-trained nurse and midwife at Modjo Health Center in Oromia, a region in central Ethiopia. “Our focus is on maternal health, particularly for young women aged 15-24. We address [maternal] complications and support women who might otherwise go without care.”
Ipas Ethiopia is helping providers and facilities keep going—providing training, mentorship, and resources so that abortion and contraceptive care remain available when and where people need them.
Pictured above, top of story: Women wait outside the gynecology ward at Adama Hospital in Oromia.
Pictured above: Nurse Yilfashewa Beyene in an exam room at Modjo Health Center.
Supporting health workers on the frontlines
In many health centers, the stakes could not be higher. Kiya Feyisa, director of the Bishoftu Primary Health Center in Oromia, highlights the urgent need for these services:
“At this facility, over 80% of services focus on women’s sexual and reproductive health, including abortion,” Feyisa explains. “Abortion services play a vital role in preventing maternal complications and supporting teenagers who may lack financial resources to sustain a pregnancy.”
Keeping these services running has not been easy. Many of Ethiopia’s health facilities have not had time to recover from repeated climate crises and armed conflict, causing limited resources, staff shortages, and economic barriers that prevent many women from getting the care they need. Even though abortion and contraceptive care are legally permitted, stigma, cost and distance make it difficult for many to obtain quality sexual and reproductive health information, supplies, and services.
“We’ve seen women facing economic challenges and family pressures struggle when seeking our services. One case [I remember] involved a young woman who found support and care through our clinic despite opposition from her family,” says Feyisa.
“The fees have posed challenges, forcing some women to seek financial support from family or friends to [pay for] care. This has highlighted the need for more equitable access to services,” adds Beyene.
Ousmael Mohammed, an abortion provider and Ipas trainer at Adama General Hospital and Medical College in Oromia, describes the growing demand for support from rural colleagues, who are more accessible to people unable to travel the long distances to city centers. “More providers from our countryside are seeking guidance from us about abortion services. If they come across difficulties, Ipas provides training. I also consult and give trainings at different facilities.”
Training is just one piece of the puzzle—ongoing mentorship is just as important. “We share our phone contacts during the training. I [follow up with] trainees who are transitioning from Ipas trainings.”
Left to right: Alemayehu Molla, Ipas Ethiopia’s Senior Advisor, access lead; Kiya Feyisa, Bishoftu Health Center Director; Engida Sisay, Bishoftu Health Center provider; and Saketa Boru, Ipas Ethiopia’s Senior Advisor, regional team lead.
Pictured above: The family planning area of Bishoftu Health Center.
A system under strain—and solutions in motion
Ethiopia’s ongoing conflict, economic instability and worsening drought have placed a massive burden on health facilities while simultaneously causing rates of gender-based violence (GBV) to increase. In many areas, GBV survivors struggle to access care, with only 19% of internally displaced persons (IDPs) sites having GBV service centers. Even in hospitals, staff are overwhelmed.
“The responsibility of treating GBV victims falls in the hands of health extension workers, who manage both medical and legal needs without proper resources,” says a health worker in South Omo, in southwestern Ethiopia.
At Karamara General Hospital in Somali, a region in eastern Ethiopia, another provider points to the long-term barriers survivors face. “Even those who overcome all obstacles… usually leave after their first visit because they don’t have a place to stay.”
Staff at Yabello Hospital in Oromia echo the need for expanded services. “The service time should be 24 hours because this is an emergency,” one says. “Yet limited budgets restrict care to working hours only.”
Ipas Ethiopia is working alongside facilities like these to close the gaps—helping hospitals maintain services, training more providers in comprehensive abortion and contraceptive care, and ensuring abortion pills remain available through pharmacies.
Adama Hospital family planning providers: Kamila Ture and Zeleka Negash
‘It’s about supporting women in their time of need’
Providers across Ethiopia continue to call for greater investment in sexual and reproductive health services. They are ready to serve their communities—but they need the resources and support to do it.
“It’s essential to recognize the dedication and compassion of providers in ensuring women’s access to safe and dignified care. Our work goes beyond medical services; it’s about supporting women in their time of need,” Yilfashewa Beyene emphasizes.