PSI Ethiopia

20/05/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱.

From May 14–15, 2026, the ACSO delegation, led by Deputy Director Ato Mesfin Muluneh, visited PSI Ethiopia’s South Area Office and program sites across Sidama Region of Ethiopia to engage with communities, frontline health workers, and local health leaders.

From HPV VISION and Smart Start at Dobe Negash Health Post to Non-Communicable Disease/Chronic Kidney Disease and DMPA-SC services at Alamura Health Center in Hawassa, the visit highlighted how integrated, community-driven solutions are expanding access to quality healthcare.

The delegation recognized PSI Ethiopia’s contribution in:
✅ Scaling proven programs that expand access to care
✅ Strengthening government ownership and collaboration
✅ Delivering practical, community-responsive solutions
✅ Supporting stronger health systems from the ground up

Visits like these help connect policy with frontline realities and strengthen the partnerships needed to deliver lasting impact.

20/05/2026

𝗔 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

At Wachu Health Center in West Hararghe, Ethiopia, that opportunity was once missed. Mothers delivered safely, but many left without access to immediate postpartum family planning simply because providers lacked the skills to offer long-acting options.

Through the Smart Pathways program, Midwives received targeted training to counsel, insert, and follow up on postpartum IUDs, transforming childbirth from a routine service into a critical moment for informed choice and long-term health.

The results within one year:
✅ 1,531 safe deliveries
✅ 551 women adopted family planning before discharge
✅ 70% chose postpartum IUDs

When skilled providers meet women at the right moment, with the right options, postpartum care becomes more than a medical service. It becomes a pathway to healthier families, greater confidence, and more empowered futures.

𝗔𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗜𝗨𝗗 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻…”

Read more: https://psiethiopia.medium.com/the-moment-that-matters-f0b24469e9a2

19/05/2026

🩺 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Controlling Hypertension Together: Check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer.

👉 Did you know? Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and early death. Often referred to as the “𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿,” it can go unnoticed because many people experience no symptoms. However, early detection and simple lifestyle changes can help prevent serious health complications.

👉 Protect your health by adopting these habits:
✔️ Check your blood pressure regularly
✔️ Reduce salt intake and eat more fruits and vegetables
✔️ Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
✔️ Avoid to***co, alcohol, and excess fried or fatty foods
✔️ Manage stress, sleep well, and take prescribed medications as directed

💙 Who is Driving the Change? Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme, Astrazeneca ‘s Health Equity initiative, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Health,Ethiopia, PSI Ethiopia, and other key stakeholders to strengthen efforts in prevention, early detection, and management of Hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

💙 Let’s take action together! Small steps today can lead to a healthier tomorrow! Encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to get checked — awareness is the first step to controlling hypertension.

15/05/2026

𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟰𝟱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The Ministry of Health,Ethiopia, in collaboration with Population Services International/Ethiopia (PSI Ethiopia), convened the Urban Smart Start (USS) Stakeholder Alignment and Strengthening Workshop from May 12–13, 2026, in Bishoftu.

The workshop brought together Regional Health Bureaus, the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia, and representatives from 45 towns and cities across the country to strengthen alignment and coordination around the Urban Smart Start approach.

The session served as a collaborative platform to share findings from recent rapid assessments, strengthen implementation approaches, and promote cross-regional learning on adolescent health in urban settings. Discussions focused on addressing implementation challenges, strengthening coordination, and building a shared vision for scaling impactful urban adolescent health solutions.

A key highlight of the workshop was the co-creation of localized community engagement models tailored to the realities of different towns and cities to better reach and empower adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Participants also developed actionable town-level work plans to support immediate rollout and scale-up efforts.

The workshop reflects the Ministry of Health’s continued commitment to strengthening urban adolescent health systems through coordinated, youth-centered, and community-led approaches.

12/05/2026

On April 27–28, 2026, PSI Ethiopia was honored to welcome Jessica Millman, Executive Director of the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, during field visits to Oromia and Sidama Regions.

In Negelle Arsi, Oromia, Jessica visited Dole Health Center and Ali Woyo Health Post to see the Strengthening Adolescent Health and Quality Improvement project in action, including Smart Start and Counseling for Choice (C4C).

𝗖4𝗖 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱.

Since launching as a pilot in 2023, SAHQI has expanded to 55 health facilities in hard-to-reach rural areas of Oromia and South Ethiopia, reaching nearly 40,000 adolescent girls and young women ages 15–24 with quality family planning counseling and services.

The visit also highlighted progress under PSI Ethiopia’s IUCD scale-up and DISC projects, which are expanding contraceptive choice and self-care options. Within four months, 540 clients accessed IUCD services at health posts, while nearly 500 clients adopted DMPA-SC self-injection in the first month of implementation.

The day concluded with a Certificate of Recognition from the Negelle Arsi Woreda Health Office, acknowledging PSI Ethiopia’s partnership and contribution to strengthening adolescent and women’s health services.

On April 28, Jessica continued to Sidama Region, visiting Dobe Negasha Health Post in Hawella Woreda and Mottiti Furra Hospital in Hawassa City. The visit showcased integrated implementation across the HPV VISION, DISC, and RISE programs, including discussions with Health Extension Workers, community leaders, married adolescent Smart Start users and their husbands, HPV-vaccinated girls ages 9–14, and parents.

These visits reaffirmed our shared commitment to expanding equitable, high-quality sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls, young women, and women across Ethiopia.

𝗪𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

11/05/2026

📍 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗮

We are in Jimma for Phase II of the IUCD Training for Level IV Health Extension Workers (HEWs). At the same time, HEWs from selected health posts in Axum, Dessie, Harar, Shashemene, and Soddo are also participating in this intensive 11‑day training.

Led by experienced facilitators, the training strengthens skills in IUCD counseling, safe insertion and removal, side‑effect management, and follow‑up care, with a strong focus on informed choice and quality of care. Sessions combine theory, pelvic model demonstrations, and hands‑on clinical attachments.

Mentors from Primary Health Care Units are also engaged and will continue providing on‑the‑job coaching to support quality IUCD service delivery at health posts.

𝗛𝗘𝗪𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁‑𝘂𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗻‑𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗨𝗖𝗗 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

04/05/2026

“𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴‑𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝗨𝗖𝗗𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀.” 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮, 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮. “𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.”

Access to long‑acting family planning is changing in rural Ethiopia. For years, services like IUCD insertion were limited to health centers, leaving many women out especially in rural areas.

Through targeted training, task sharing, and stronger collaboration within the Primary Health Care Unit, IUCD services are now being safely delivered at the Health Post level bringing care closer to where women live.

Decentralizing IUCD services is proving not only possible, but essential for increasing informed choice, building community trust, and delivering quality care closer to where women live, and improving reproductive health outcomes across Ethiopia.

👉 Read on how this model is transforming access to care: https://psiethiopia.medium.com/decentralizing-iucd-services-b60f2610678a

02/05/2026

SAHQI Journey: Advancing Quality Counselling

PSI Ethiopia convened the SAHQI Project Advocacy & Review Meeting in Hawassa, bringing together partners and frontline voices to reflect on what’s working and what comes next for quality family planning counselling.

With participation from the Ministry of Health,Ethiopia, the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, regional teams, and Health Extension Workers, the conversation centered on one clear takeaway: client-centered counselling is transforming how young women access and experience care.

Through the Counseling for Choice (C4C) approach, the project has reached 37,858 adolescent girls and young women, supported 37,173 family planning uptakes, and expanded from 40 to 55 health facilities across Oromia and South Ethiopia. Even more encouraging continuation rates remain strong at 96% and 86%, showing that informed choice leads to sustained use.

As the project moves toward its June close, the focus is clear: scale what works, strengthens partnerships, and ensure quality counselling remains at the heart of reproductive health services.

19/04/2026

በፋርማሲዎች ውስጥ የሚሰጥ የክትባት አገልግሎት ማስጀመሪያ መርሃ ግብር!

Sagantaa Jalqabisiisa Tajaajila Talaallii Manneen Qorichaa/Faarmaasii keessatti kennamu!

18/04/2026

Today, Ethiopia proudly launched the Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery (PBID) pilot program, a new initiative designed to bring immunization services closer to communities through pharmacy platforms.

The pilot marks an important step in expanding access to essential health services through innovative and people-centered solutions.

“Health services should be easy to access, close to people, and built around their real lives,” said Ruth Woldetensay, Acting Country Representative of PSI Ethiopia.

Dr. Daniel Waktole, President of the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association, noted that this initiative clearly demonstrates how pharmacies and pharmacists, when engaged in broader roles, can make an even greater contribution to strengthening the health system.

Led by the Ministry of Health,Ethiopia in partnership with PSI Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association, Takeda, and key stakeholders, today’s launch signals a shared commitment to stronger, more accessible immunization services for all.

17/04/2026