AMINA’S JOURNEY WITH SMART PATHWAYS IN GAMO GOFA
By Fana Abay, Marketing and Communications Director, PSI Ethiopia
“For 17 years, comprehensive technical training for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) was just a distant dream,” Amina* says with gratitude and determination. “But then everything changed when PSI and the Ethiopian Midwives Association offered training,” recalls Amina, a Health Extension Worker (HEW) in the Gamo-Gofa Zone, about 350 kilometers (about 217.48 mi) south of Addis Ababa.
Smart Pathways builds on the proven Smart Start brand, an innovative approach to counseling that turns traditional contraceptive counseling by using targeted financial information to help married adolescent girls, young women, and their husbands plan the families and lives they want.
With the introduction of Smart Pathways, HEWs like Amina receive comprehensive training on family planning, birth control, prenatal care, antenatal care, postpartum care, and respectful maternity care. This training refresh their knowledge and skills, boosting their confidence in providing essential health services.
“The training has equipped us with the latest tools and techniques,” explains Amina, her eyes shining with newfound confidence. “It has made us capable and confident service providers.”
Together, Smart Start and Smart Pathways guide adolescents and young women on their reproductive health journey, ensuring they receive ongoing support and counseling.
Smart Pathways has not only improved Amina’s skills but also fostered a culture of recognition and support among the Health Extension Workers. Amina, for the first time in her career, feels valued, and her work is being recognized by the Ministry of Health and community leaders. This recognition has significantly boosted Amina’s morale and commitment to her work. ‘Feeling supported by our peers and supervisors has really helped us move forward,’ she emphasizes. ‘We are not just healthcare providers but also partners in promoting the well-being of the community.’
The expected outcomes of Smart Pathways include improved nutritional knowledge, early pregnancy awareness, and recognition of pregnancy risks. It also aims to increase service utilization by encouraging more ANC (antenatal care) visits, postnatal care (PNC), postpartum family planning (PPFP), and the intention to use PPFP and ANC services.
Amina is living proof of Smart Pathway’s transformative potential. As she and her colleagues work tirelessly to improve health outcomes, they also strengthen community resilience and health systems’ sustainability. Amina’s work is not just about providing healthcare but about building a healthier and more resilient community.
Join us in honoring Amina and other HEWs who are driving innovation in healthcare with Smart Pathways. Together, we can create healthier and more resilient communities — one committed HEW and life-changing initiative at a time!
Name changed for privacy reasons.*
