Ethiopia
This is the annual activity report of the Ethiopian Medical Women’s Association (EMeWA) from January to November 2021. EMeWA has been engaging in different activities this past year, including professional training and awareness advocacy. Below you will find a detailed description of the activities so far.
EMeWA Webcast series
Webcast series with 4 episodes on women’s leadership in health care in collaboration with Impala Communication with the title of Elevate your Leadership. At a time when our healthcare system is facing multiple challenges, healthcare professionals should have a prominent role in taking a lead. In this session, we discussed how to elevate your leadership presence by owning who you are, challenging yourself, and being intentional about leaving a legacy that lasts. Understanding what followers look for in leaders, how to stretch yourself beyond the stereotype that may confine you, and the importance of being authentic were part of the session.
Professional development
Fig. 1: EMeWA’s Webcast Series Announcement
Soft Skill Training
EMEWA conducted six days of soft skills training in collaboration with dereja.com. for its junior members. The discussion had 6 sections focused on creative problem solving & Employability essentials and the job searching process. Trainees expressed their appreciation for the training and gave us useful feedback. The trainees had multiple exercises that enhance creative problem- solving including brainstorming to improve the Hospital administration and Healthcare system in our country with their trainer Nebiyu Yirga. We ended our training program with closing remarks from Siham Ayele, the program Director of Dereja.com and Dr. Azeb Asaminew Alemu our Members Admin and Public Relations Chair at EMeWA.
Anti-Harassment Training Workshop
A three days’ workshop on Work Place Harassment was conducted on December 22 -24 and provided to the first group of Yekatit 12 Hospital staff. The workshop was organized by EMeWA in collaboration with CARE Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health. Several discussion points were raised in the debriefing session. A certificate was provided for the trainees. A total of 79 professionals participated in the workshop. The workshop was closed by Mrs. Fatuma, MOH, Women Children, and Youth Affairs Directorate Director.
Second General Assembly
The second general assembly was held for two days at Best Western Hotel. Day one was the Opening of the Exhibition and Project fair by the State Minister of Health Alemtsehay Paulos. The platform provided for sponsors to exhibit their products as well as for members to showcase their projects to fellow members, invited guests and different stakeholders. There was a panel discussion with our amazing panelists of young and accomplished female physicians moderated by Dr. Azeb Asaminew Alemu (Members admin and public relations Chair, EC Member, EMeWA). The second day of the assembly was spent on “Research Abstract Presentation” by Dr. Alpha Seifu and Dr. Selamawit Eshetu moderated by Dr.Kalkidan Alachew (Secretary, EC Member, EMeWA). Members endorsed the 2021 annual plan & 5-year strategic plan and discussed the 2020 annual report and audit report.
Fig. 2: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
Breast Cancer Awareness Advocacy
Ethiopian Medical Women’s Association (EMeWA) had a two-week-long online medical campaign on Breast Cancer Awareness in the last weeks of October. The webinar was done in collaboration with Impala Communications on Nov 6, 2021 and the Women Medical Network Group. The event was promoted on all EMEWA social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Telegram. The Panel discussion hosted three guest speakers in the area. Good online feedback was received from the online campaign.
Social media Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ran until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was held with the global theme of “Orange the world: End violence against women now!”
Research dissemination
EMeWA attended the 3rd National Symposium on Reproductive Health with the theme of: “Sexual and Reproductive Health Services amid Covid-19 Pandemic: lessons learned and the way forward” and presented the study done in collaboration with Impala Communication with the title “Impact of COVID-19 on Access and Utilization of Reproductive Health Care in Ethiopia”.