JSI Celebrates Helping Expand Access to Health Services for 17 Million Ethiopians

April 28th, 2022 | news

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Our Last Ten Kilometers (L10K) project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, came to a close this week after more than a decade of working to improve the health status of more than 17 million Ethiopians. L10K partnered with the Ministry of Health (MOH), civil society organizations, and communities to strengthen the primary health care system and improve the quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services. To celebrate the project’s legacy, JSI and the MOH co-hosted events in Addis Ababa on April 26 and 27, 2022, including a conference to share results.

L10K trained more than 10,000 health extension workers and more than 100,000 Women Development Army members and other health volunteers to better link communities to health services.

At an evening reception at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, State Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma and JSI President and CEO Margaret Crotty highlighted the longstanding partnership between the MOH and JSI, as well as L10K’s impressive results. Project Director Dessalew Emaway opened the event, and former project director Wuleta Betermariam served as MC. During L10K’s 14-year history, Betemariam and Emaway led the team that drove the project’s success.

Former L10K Project Director Wuleta Betemariam welcomes H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, to the evening reception and photo book launch.
Former L10K Project Director Wuleta Betemariam welcomes H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, to the evening reception and photo book launch. Photo by Benti Ejeta.

The evening continued with the screening of a short testimonial video documenting the legacy of the L10K Project, before concluding with the launch of a beautiful photo book showcasing Ethiopia’s health extension workers and the communities they serve.

JSI also hosted a conference to share project results. JSI International Division Director Mark Kowalski opened the event by thanking the partners in the room, including representatives from the MOH, civil society organizations, BMGF, USAID, UNICEF, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation for their contributions to L10K’s success. The conference included poster presentations and panel discussions about L10K’s community engagement strategy and approach to improving the quality of RMNCAH services.

JSI Country Representative Binyam Desta (right) speaks on a panel at the L10K conference with L10K Project Director Dessalew Emaway and Israel Ataro from the Ministry of Health.
JSI Country Representative Binyam Desta (right) speaks on a panel at the L10K conference with L10K Project Director Dessalew Emaway and Israel Ataro from the Ministry of Health. Photo by Benti Ejeta.

JSI looks forward to continuing the L10K legacy in Ethiopia through a newly launched Integrated Primary Health Care Service Delivery Activity, also funded by the Gates Foundation.

Presentations:

Posters:

Feature photo by Robin Hammond for JSI.

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