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Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba and the Founder and CEO of Healing Hands of Joy, Allison Shigo held a discussion to increase the reach of the service by expanding fistula treatment, which is being provided only in four regions.
Healing Hands of Joy is an organization that supports fistula treatment in Ethiopia; It is an organization that supports fistula-afflicted mothers to reintegrate them into society by providing them with fistula treatment and rehabilitating them. Allison Shigo, the organization's founder and CEO, said that the organization is working to prevent mothers from getting harmed by fistula.
Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, stated that efforts will be made to expand the fistula treatment service that is being provided in Oromia, Amhara, Sidama and Tigray into other regions. She said that attention will be given to making the service accessible in areas where there is transportation problem. In addition Dr. Mekdes thanked Healing Hands of Joy for to the support it provides in the field, stating that it is working in various collaborations with the Ministry of Health in relation to maternal health.
The CEO of the organization stated that they will continue to strengthen their support to increase the distribution of vaccines in areas where access to vaccines has decreased due to natural and man-made disasters; She said that they will work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that women who have been sexually assaulted in the areas have access to medical services.