Azeb’s Story as a Midwife Championing Reproductive Health in Rural Ethiopia
By Nardos Delelegn Bogale, EngenderHealth Ethiopia
A One-Woman Force in a Busy Health Center
In the remote corners of Ethiopia’s Chiro Zone, at Asebot Health Center, Azeb Legesse is a beacon of resilience and dedication. At 33 years of age, she has spent the past seven years navigating the demanding field of maternal and child health with grace and determination.
Today, she stands alone as the health center’s sole midwife, serving a growing population with the support of just one nurse. The odds are steep—but Azeb remains steadfast.
Meeting Challenges with Commitment
Each day presents new challenges: high caseloads, limited resources, and the relentless pressure of being the only skilled birth attendant in the health facility. Yet, what drives Azeb isn’t just a sense of duty—it’s her unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of women and newborns in her community.
One of the most pressing—and personal—challenges Azeb faces is postpartum family planning (PPFP). Discussing contraceptive options can be challenging when cultural and religious beliefs often hinder the uptake of contraceptive methods. “It’s difficult,” Azeb admits. “But I’ve seen younger women becoming more open to these conversations. That gives me hope.”
For years, PPFP counseling at Asebot was more of a checkbox exercise than a meaningful dialogue. Typically, in the past, women were simply asked to name their preferred family planning methods, without an explanation or discussion of the full range of available options. But Azeb knew this wasn’t good enough. When the opportunity came to join EngenderHealth’s specialized PPFP training, she embraced it.
Training That Transformed Practice
That PPFP training transformed her skills and approach to clients. Armed with updated knowledge and new counseling techniques, Azeb now delivers comprehensive, respectful, and informed guidance on a diverse range of family planning methods. Her approach helps women fully understand their reproductive choices and empowers them to make well-informed decisions that align with their lives and personal values.
But Azeb’s growth is not just individual. She believes that continuous on-the-job training is essential for quality healthcare. “Ongoing training motivates us. It keeps us sharp and reminds us why our work matters,” she says. “When providers are supported and well-equipped, care improves and so do outcomes.”
Investing in Health Workers, Investing in Communities
Azeb’s story is a powerful call to action. She represents the thousands of frontline health workers who benefit from comprehensive training to better serve their communities. By ensuring the sustained improvement of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services, she is a quiet force improving maternal health in rural Ethiopia. With strengthened skills and a renewed perspective, she remains determined to enhance the quality of care at Asebot Health Center, advocating for better support systems that prioritize both healthcare providers and the women they serve.