July 12, 2016
Ethiopia
At the end of June, the opening ceremony of the activities to support health care for mothers with children took place at the Konso Culture Centre. The event was launched by the chairman of ECC-SDCO/S charity organization Father Michael Yoseph together with Bishop Tsegay Keneni.
Individual plans were presented to the participants by Caritas Czech Republic worker Silvie Králová, by the representative of the Catholic Office for Social and Development Coordination in Soddo and by the representative of Karat District Hospital. All three also outlined the current situation of mothers and children in accessing health care in the Konso District where there is a lack of quality care.
The results of a quick survey of the current situation regarding the number of patients and the material equipment at Karat hospital and ten nearby health centres were revealed during the opening. They will all obtain better access to the referral hospital in Konso, as well as to quality health material and the necessary qualified staff to successfully deal with common complications on site.
Caritas Czech Republic also attempts to collaborate with key partners from the hospital, health centres, and universities, as well as with locals, particularly government institutions essential for development of quality 
maternal care in the region.
The final discussion centered on the positive and affirmative acceptance of the proposed activities. It was mainly the health centres staff who stressed the need for greater municipality involvement.
Improvement of quality and accessibility of health care for mothers with children in the Konso woreda district was supported with funds of the Czech Development Agency within the Czech Republic Foreign Development Cooperation program.
