Integrated Family Health Program

At a community conversation, supported by the Integrated Family Health Program, a religious leader addresses a group of more than 60 people.

 

“Since the time of our fathers, this practice of early marriage has been part of our tradition,” he says. “But it has affected our children in unhealthy ways.”

“At first everyone claps their hands while watching these early marriages, but then the parents are crying because their children suffer from all kinds of illnesses. Now we are learning about harmful practices."

“Girls must have access to school, and when they want to marry is now based on their choice."

"We must stop these harmful marriage practices as well as others like female genital cutting. Pathfinder is helping us to change these practices for the future of our community.”

The Integrated Family Health Program is a five-year (2008-2013) USAID-funded program. IFHP promotes an integrated model for strengthening family planning; reproductive health; and maternal, newborn, and child health services for rural and underserved populations for rural and underserved populations in Ethiopia. IFHP assists in the provision of service delivery in 301 woredas of the four major regions of Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Region, and Tigray, and to a lesser extent in Benishangul Gumuz and Somali regions.

Pathfinder works to increase access to services at the community level and continues to support the government’s initiative to improve access to long-acting contraception methods as part of the mix of family planning services. Pathfinder also works with the government to strengthen systems and train health providers so that more women receive the services they desire. As one of Pathfinder’s flagship programs, IFHP stands to make a lasting contribution to the government of Ethiopia’s efforts to improve its health care systems and is expected to reach more than half the nation’s population. IFHP is implemented by Pathfinder International and John Snow, Inc., in partnership with local implementing partner organizations.

IFHP recently conducted community mobilization and behavior change activities focused on women’s and girl’s health. These activities are highly integrated, with all reproductive health messaging combined with other cross-cutting issues such as awareness on early marriage, gender based violence and fistula. The project has sensitized more than 2,000 community and religious leaders on health and gender issues and has documented more than 7,000 marriage cancellations as a result of project activities. IFHP’s excellent performance has led to a funded extension of nearly $14 million in its fifth year through the Pathfinder-led E2A program.

To learn more, visit the project's website.