Addis Ababa:The Beginnings Fund, supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, has announced a $90 million partnership with the Federal Government of Ethiopia. The five-year initiative aims to enhance maternal and newborn care across the nation, targeting eight regions and 210 health facilities to improve healthcare delivery and reduce preventable deaths among mothers and babies.
According to Emirates News Agency, the investment aligns with Ethiopia's national health priorities and is designed to complement existing governmental and donor commitments. A portion of the funding, $10 million, will be directed through Ethiopia's Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) Compact, which coordinates financing for health services.
The launch event in Addis Ababa was attended by key figures such as Abdalla Hassan Alshamsi, UAE Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Dr. Mekdes Daba Feyssa, Ethiopia's Minister of Health. The partnership is seen as a significant step in Ethiopia's healthcare strategy, leveraging combined resources from government, philanthropy, and partners to enhance the health workforce and infrastructure.
The Beginnings Fund, a $525 million initiative, aims to prevent maternal and newborn deaths in Africa. By 2031, it seeks to provide access to quality care for 34 million mothers and babies in 10 African countries, with expectations to prevent over 300,000 avoidable deaths. The Fund's donors include prominent organizations such as the Gates Foundation and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation.
Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei, from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, emphasized the importance of this partnership in strengthening Ethiopia's health services to reduce preventable loss and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.
The partnership's goals over the next five years include enhancing the skilled health workforce, increasing access to medical interventions and equipment, and improving infrastructure and emergency systems. These efforts are expected to help prevent approximately 86,000 maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2031, supporting long-term health system improvements in Ethiopia.
