Dilla, Southern Ethiopia, 08 November 2023: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNFPA (United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency) organized a field visit to project sites in the Southern Ethiopia and Oromia Regions. The visit was part of the Integrated Programme on Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health among Adolescents and Youth (2019-2023) being implemented in selected woredas of Gedeo and West Guji Zones.

The five-year program is currently underway with a total budget of USD 3.5 million. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of adolescents and young people to make well-informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly concerning family planning.

In the past few years, conflicts in the two zones have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, especially adolescents and young adults. This has made them more vulnerable to various sexual and reproductive health issues, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and gender-based violence. H.E Mr. Cho Han Deog from KOICA stated that their support aims to reinforce the current health system and services that have been adversely affected by the conflict in the two zones. The primary goal is to team up with UNFPA to strengthen the health sector, ensuring that women and young people receive high-quality services and assistance in reproductive health'' he said.

''We are working to empower adolescents and youth; ensuring their access to available services as well as developing the capacity of healthcare providers and institutions to ensure informed choices. The program strengthens the service-seeking culture among youth and adolescents. Comprehensive adolescent-friendly services are included in the response'' said Mr. Koffi Kouame, UNFPA Ethiopia representative. The program aims to reach 150,000 unmarried and married adolescents and youth. So far, over 105,000 individuals have been trained in peer education and peacebuilding. As a result, the demand for and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents and youth has shown an increase. Under the program, 41,844 young women have used various contraceptive methods, including long-acting contraceptives.

The program has distributed Emergency Reproductive Health Kits and medical equipment to enhance the capacity of health facilities to provide quality Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. Additionally, two ambulances have been provided to strengthen the referral system for addressing obstetric complications and other critical cases, thereby promoting safe delivery and reducing preventable maternal deaths. The Joint mission was attended by high-level officials from Southern Ethiopia and zonal officials from the Gedeo zones as well as senior officials of KOICA and UNFPA.