Ethiopian Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba has been honored with the Symbolic Excellent Leadership Award by the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG). The award was presented at ESOG's 33rd Annual Conference, themed "Every woman, Every newborn for a healthy future: the role of ESOG."
Dr. Mekdes Daba received the award in the presence of President of the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Professor Anne-Beatrice Kihara, and President of the Ethiopian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Hailemariam Segni.
Opening the session, the minister noted that the Ethiopian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has made significant contributions to saving the lives of mothers and infants and improving its services. She said that although the results of the work done are encouraging, the impact of maternal deaths on society and families is serious, and "we must all work diligently".
Dr. Mekdes, who pointed out that maternal, child and youth health services are among the programs that are given priority in the health sector, said that human resource development and digitalization, health sector financing and domestic manufacturing are also being worked on with great attention, and that it is necessary to continue to work on the remaining tasks in this regard with determination and coordination.
On his part, President of the Ethiopian Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association, Dr. Hailemariam Segni, who mentioned that the association has up to 1000 members, said that the causes of infant deaths are asphyxiation, premature birth and infection, and that postpartum hemorrhage, high blood pressure and infection are the causes of maternal deaths.
He indicated the need to undertake more researches to reduce maternal and child deaths and that findings and recommendations should be implemented.