Town Hall meeting was conducted in Hawassa city from Nov 13 to 14, 2024 which was the collaboration effect of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Ethiopian pediatrics Society (EPS), Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Hawassa University, Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Saving Little Life (SLL) 360 project.
A total of 65 participants were included including stakeholders from different professional associations (EPS and ESOG), Regional health bureau delegates from Sidama, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray regions and administrative staffs (CEO and medical directors), department heads (Labor and delivery and NICU), physicians, nurses and midwives from different hospitals (Tikur Anbessa, St. Paul millennium, Zewditu memorial, Ghandi memorial, Tirunesh Beijing general, Felegehiwot Referral, Mekele general, HUCSH, Bushulo MNCHSCPC, Adare General hospital, Hawela Tula general hospital and Motiti Fura primary hospitals)
The Attendants also include stake holders from UNICEF, USAID, IHI, CHAI, JSI L10K, NEST360, Mothers, fathers and surrogate (Aunt) of preterm babies who experienced iKMC care and the AAP, EPS, SLL 360 and iKMC implementation research team members from the Center for Implementation Sciences (CIS) in Health, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, attended and facilitated the workshop sessions.
The main objectives of the meeting were:
- To highlight the importance and implementation of Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC) in Ethiopia
- To share personal stories and testimonies from mothers and health care providers who have experienced iKMC
- Provide practical knowledge and skills for iKMC implementation through iKMC facility visit, workshops and simulations
- Foster collaboration and exchange between local and international experts to enhance iKMC practices in Ethiopia
The meeting was opened with Key note and remarks about the importance of immediate kangaroo mother care followed by panel discussion and personal stories of mothers, fathers and aunts about iKMC care they received. The discussion focuses on the experience of the care givers which helped to picture how the care was given, challenges faced and suggestion for stakeholders. Additionally the hospital admin department heads and health providers experience to initiate iKMC care in their facilities, what were the challenges and suggestion for scaling up iKMC in different facilities were discussed. The history and current status of KMC and iKMC in Ethiopia was presented with follow-up discussion on iKMC status in Africa with guests from Ghana, Nigeria and India which pictured the enabling environment of the health system, challenges faced, lesson learned from implementing iKMC and strategies helped to overcome the problems.
There was also iKMC site visit to Bushilo MNCHSC and HUCSH Hospital to visit the setup of the facilities and iKMC care given with follow-up debrief session on practicality of implementing iKMC and question and answers form participants from different facilities and stakeholders. Simulation of how iKMC is given was demonstrated by senior physicians and participants.
The current progress of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health in terms of scaling up of iKMC was presented by MOH representative. Then, roundtable discussion by region between iKMC facilities, representatives from regional health bureaus and different partners was conducted which helped to share the experience from iKMC facilities, possible critical constraints to initiate iKMC in the other regional hospitals and action items to initiate iKMC in respective hospitals was discussed. Finally, the participants from governmental bureaus, NGO and international partner’s contribution to scale up iKMC in Ethiopia setting was discussed with setting next steps and commitment.
