Volunteer ambassador celebrates maternal health success in Ethiopia
CCFC partners with local and international stakeholders to achieve greater impact
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – After a whirlwind trip to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) program areas in Ethiopia, Sharon Caddy, radio host and CCFC volunteer ambassador, spent time spreading the word about our work with local government representatives, Canadian dignitaries and scholars.
A visit to the Canadian consulate revealed promising news. In 2014/2015, the Government of Canada committed $134 million to Ethiopia, and it’s appealing to Canadians to give their thoughts on its future work. “This is an opportunity that doesn't come up often,” Kati Csaba, Canada’s Minister Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation in Ethiopia, told Caddy. “It's an opportunity for Canadians to make their voices heard.”
CCFC’s voice is being heard as it moves to begin a maternal health project in the Kemise region of Ethiopia in collaboration with the local government. The $4.5-million, four-year project to reduce high rates of morbidity and mortality among women and children, will be launched with the support of the Government of Canada through AMREF Health Africa.
Nearly 200,000 people will directly benefit from the initiative designed to improve delivery of essential maternal health services, use of health services and increase consumption of nutritious food. “After seeing what's happening with IMPACT (a similar project), I can't wait to see what's going to happen with the next one,” Caddy told a contingent of local journalists. She added: “So much has been done, but there's still so much to do.”
Check out ccfcanada.ca for updates as the project launches in two to three weeks.