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Maternity Waiting Homes in Tigray
Neqsege, a district in the Tigray region extending from the Semien Mountains, is characterized by rough terrain that makes access to essential services, particularly for pregnant women, extremely challenging. The difficult landscape, combined with the devastation of health facilities during the two-year conflict, has severely limited access to reproductive health care. As a result, maternal deaths have risen sharply, with Neqsege reporting the highest mortality rate among pregnant women in the region. To address this crisis, UNFPA is strengthening maternal waiting homes—residential facilities near or within health centers—where high-risk pregnant women can stay until delivery, ensuring they receive timely medical care and a safer childbirth experience.