Population Media Center Ethiopia’s Post

Empowering Change for Reproductive Health: PMC-Ethiopia in collaboration with Yonsie and other partners Leads the Way at the 6th Annual Reproductive Health International Conference November 13, 2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Population Media Center-Ethiopia (PMC-Eth) is honored to serve as the steering committee for the 6th Annual Reproductive Health International Conference, a powerful platform for driving change in family planning and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) across Ethiopia and beyond. Co-hosted with Yonsei University Global Health Center (YGHC) and supported by key partners including KOICA, the conference promises impactful dialogues under the theme, “30 Years Post-ICPD: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Today’s pre-conference activities kicked off with a Journalist Workshop at Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, titled “Your Voice, Their Future: Advocate for Family Planning.” In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Jihyun Moon, YGHC’s Country Director, emphasized the essential role of media in shifting social norms around SRH, noting how the support from KOICA and other partners is driving these efforts forward. Mr. Cho Han Deog, KOICA’s Country Director, reiterated the agency's commitment to advancing SRH by financially backing the conference. He highlighted KOICA’s intention to continue supporting initiatives that benefit community health and well-being. Dr. Tegegne Regassa, PR and Communications Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health, called on media professionals to prioritize family planning and SRH coverage, underscoring the government’s dedication to addressing these crucial health topics at a national level. Dr. Hailegnaw Eshete, PMC-Eth’s Country Director, presented the Ethiopian case for the media's role in family planning and SRH. He highlighted challenges in addressing unmet needs, ranging from 22% to 32%, and discussed how deeply rooted social norms and gender roles often obstruct SRH progress. Dr. Hailegnaw shared PMC-Eth's experience in using research-based multimedia strategies to promote behavior change, from advocacy to policy influence, resource mobilization, and accountability. Tomorrow, the main conference begins, running from November 14-15 at the Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa. This day-day event brings together thought leaders and change-makers to re-evaluate and reimagine the path toward universal SRH access. Different abstracts, research findings, and best practices will be presented on the two-day conference. Join us as we drive meaningful progress in reproductive health and family planning! #ReproductiveHealth2024 #PMCEthiopia #FamilyPlanning #SRH #MediaForChange #ICPD30 #HealthForAll #AddisAbaba