The Ministry of Health, Oromia Regional Health Bureau, PATH, and partners of the Specialized Lactation Support (SLS) implementation research project held a two-day co-redesign workshop on April 10–11, 2025, in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The goal was to collaboratively design the second model of the project within its phase one period. The workshop included leaders from woreda health offices, NICUs, MCH units, and senior physicians from phase one implementation sites, Batu and Meki.
Key Highlights:
- Insights on Model One: The research team presented barriers, strategies, performance, qualitative program learning, and outcome measurement assessments key findings from the first model.
- Barrier Identification: Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Oromia Regional Health Bureau, woreda health offices, and hospitals identified key barriers such as:
- Healthcare provider shortages and high workloads.
- Challenges faced by mothers.
- Infrastructure and supply limitations.
- Gaps in training and mentorship
- Gaps in counselling and supporting mothers and infants on breast milk feeding
- A lack of job aids for healthcare staff
- Strategy Development: During the workshop, participants formed groups to prioritize key strategies for improving the implementation of Specialized Lactation Support. These included:
- Providing continuous mentorship to healthcare providers.
- Conducting training programs on the SLS curriculum.
- Ensuring availability of breastfeeding supplies and job aids.
- Upgrading infrastructure to better support lactation services.
- Assigning an adequate number of healthcare providers to critical service areas.
- Collaborative Planning: Participants reached a consensus and collaboratively re-designed model two strategies aimed at improving exclusive breastfeeding rates among preterm and low birth weight infants. These strategies will undergo refinement by the research team and be implemented during the model two phase.
The SLS initiative remains committed to strengthening newborn care by promoting exclusive breastfeeding, supporting front-line providers, and ensuring high level change that centre both mothers and babies.
#SpecialLactationSupport #ExclusiveBreastfeeding #PretermandLBW Care
