As part of the conference IDEAS team members presented key findings from the five-year evaluation of the Community Based Newborn Care (CBNC) programme. This programme, launched in 2013 by the Ethiopian Government, has nine components, including the innovative step of antibiotics provision by community health workers for young infants with very severe diseases.

The CBNC evaluation included findings which showed that between 2013 and 2017 improvements in early identification of pregnancy and focused ANC care provision increased. Moreover, an increasing number of women have delivered their babies in health facilities.

As part of the panel discussion, Dr Bilal Avan, Dr Della Berhanu and Professor Joanna Schellenberg along with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health Maternal and Child Health department and Save the Children discussed findings and recommendations for the future of the programme in Ethiopia.

Conference participants had the chance to ask and discuss a number of key findings. Dr. Abraham Tariku from the Federal Ministry of Health presented on the current status of the ‘National Community Based Child Health Programme’ in Ethiopia and  discussed the Ministry’s future plans in this regard. Participants highlighted that further work and collaboration is needed to sustain the CBNC.