A team of sexual and reproductive health and maternal health experts drawn from the Ministry of Health of Swaziland and UNFPA paid a five-day visit to Ethiopia to take lessons from the country’s successful programmes on SRH and maternal health as well as Reproductive Health Commodity Security. The team visited and held discussion with officials at the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian, Food, Medicines, and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority and the Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply Agency.

During the field excursion organized as part of the study tour, the team visited Health posts, Health Centers and Primary Hospitals in both urban and rural areas to learn about the Primary Health Care Unit. They got the chance to observe that community involvement and participation was key at this level on SRH, and Maternal and Newborn and Child Health Service delivery.

They also saw innovative community engagement strategies and the strong referral linkage system in improving SRH and maternal health seeking behavior, increasing uptake of family planning, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives, and reducing maternal death.

The study tour was conducted between 14 and 18 November.