At just 25 years old, Tigist Kebede has already made a remarkable impact on maternal health in her community. For the past four years, she has been working as a midwife at Odola Health Center, a modest facility in Dara Woreda, Sidama Region, that is delivering extraordinary results.
Born and raised in the region, Tigist grew up witnessing women struggle through pregnancy and childbirth without access to proper medical care. Some walked for hours even while in labor to reach the nearest health facility. Others delivered at home without skilled support, risking their lives and the lives of their babies.
These early experiences shaped her path.
“I saw too many mothers suffer because they didn’t have access to care,” she says. “I knew I had to do something.”
Turning Compassion into Action
Determined to be part of the solution, Tigist pursued nursing and midwifery at a local health sciences college. There, she stood out not only for her academic commitment but also for her deep empathy. She quickly learned that midwifery isn’t just about clinical skill—it’s about emotional support, trust, and dignity.
Today, Tigist leads as the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Ward Coordinator at the Odola Health Center. Under her leadership, the ward has become a place where women feel safe, informed, and respected. Alongside her team, she provides antenatal care, safe deliveries, and postnatal support to hundreds of women each year.
“Tigist brings both remarkable talent and heartfelt care to her work—qualities that make her invaluable to our mothers,” says Tsegaye Dandiso, Head of the Odola Health Center.
Beyond the Delivery Room
Tigist’s impact goes beyond clinical care. With UNFPA’s support, she played a key role in equipping the facility’s One-Stop Center with essential supplies, making it better prepared for complicated deliveries and emergencies.
She also organizes pregnant women’s conferences, safe spaces where expectant mothers learn about nutrition, prenatal care, and birth preparedness. These gatherings have become powerful tools for building knowledge and community.
One of her proudest achievements is helping establish a maternity waiting home for women from remote areas.
“I remember a mother who walked for hours while in labor,” she recalls. “She arrived exhausted, and the baby was in distress. We saved them, but it was a close call. Now, mothers like her have a safe place to wait.”
A Vision for the Future
Tigist’s work is not without its challenges. From supply shortages to cultural barriers and power outages, each day brings a new test.
“Sometimes the ambulance can’t get through muddy roads. Sometimes we run out of supplies,” she says. “But every time we save a life, every time a baby takes its first breath, I’m reminded why I do this.”
She dreams of a future where no woman fears childbirth. She hopes to expand maternal education, mentor young midwives, and advocate for policies that put women’s health at the forefront in Ethiopia.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. “But if we keep working, one mother at a time, we’ll get there.”
