Programmes
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Cross-Cutting Issues Gender The HSDP strategic focus is to mainstream gender at all levels of the health system through:
As a means to promote the institutionalization of gender, the Health Extension Programme (HEP) recruit and train women within the community. Health Extension Workers (HEW) are permanent members of the kebele health committee and thereby enjoy some decision-making power at community level. They also play a key role in addressing gender concerns with a bias to women empowerment. Due to proximity and familiarity with their own community, they are making great impact. Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) are utilizing the National Women’s Policy and Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines is a tool to address gender related problems and disparities prevailing in the region. Using the guideline priciples, some regional adaptations are being drafted. Capacity building is also an important component in the effort towards gender mainstreaming and institutionalization. Seminars, workshops and trainings are being conducted on gender issues including reproductive health, family health services, early marriage, female genital mutilation, violence against women, gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment. While gender issues are starting to be addressed at regional levels and in a few zones on a modest scale, there is a need to further strengthen the understanding of gender issues, especially on how to programme for effective inclusion of budgeted gender activities in annual work plans. Information, education and communication on gender issues is a critical step in order to fight the battle of high maternal and child mortality.
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