Amhara Conflict Severely Disrupts Maternal Care, Leaving 200 Mothers Dead in Nine Months

By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The ongoing conflict and related challenges in the Amhara region have had a devastating impact on maternal healthcare, with the regional health bureau reporting to Ahadu Radio that 200 pregnant women have tragically lost their lives in the past nine months alone due to lack of adequate medical attention.

Melsew Chanyalew, the director of Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health at the Amhara Regional Health Bureau, stated that “Since the conflict erupted in the region, we have been unable to achieve our planned goals in the health sector, including maternal healthcare services.”

He further explained that the conflict has damaged lower-level healthcare infrastructure and facilities, posing a significant challenge to saving lives as effectively as needed.

According to a 2024 joint assessment report by the Amhara Public Health Institute and international partners, over 1,000 healthcare facilities across the region have been either partially or fully non-functional due to insecurity, lack of personnel, and supply disruptions. Particularly hard-hit areas include North Wollo, South Wollo, Gondar, and parts of the Oromia Special Zone, where access to health services has dropped by over 60% compared to pre-conflict levels.

The same report found that more than 40% of health centers in conflict-affected zones were looted or destroyed, leaving thousands without essential care. Mobile health teams and outreach services have also been suspended in many districts due to safety concerns.

While the intensity of the conflict has relatively decreased in some zones, the director pointed out to Ahadu that healthcare facilities still face significant challenges in serving the community adequately. This has particularly affected pregnant women, who, due to lack of sufficient medical care during childbirth, have experienced a tragic loss of life, totaling 200 mothers in the last nine months alone.

Melsew emphasized the urgent need for relevant bodies to pay close attention to the issue, as the continued conflict in the region will only further disrupt the already strained healthcare services.

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