Delegates of UNICEF Head Quarters and Stakeholders in SLL Project Visit Hawassa University.

Ms. Rie Takesue, a health specialist at Primary Health Care/Health Systems strengthening unit of UNICEF Head Quarters, Dr. Yayeh Negash, a BAT  Health Specialist at UNICEF Ethiopia, and Mr. Abiy Seifu, a National Principal Investigator of SLL from AAU, and regional stakeholders of SLL project visited project implementation sites and Hawassa University on November 6, 2023.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress achieved through Saving Little Lives (SLL) project, understand challenges, and determine the way forward in alignment with UNICEF's partnership management. Delegates of Sidama Region Health Bureau and SLL Hawassa University staff also participated in the site visit.

The Saving Little Lives (SLL) program is an outcome- and impact-oriented initiative implemented by a multilateral collaboration of Addis Ababa University with Emory, Hawassa and Mekelle Universities and the Federal Ministry of Health as well as regional health bureaus of Oromia, Amhara, SNNP, Sidama, Southwest Ethiopia, and Tigray regions. The major aim of SLL program is to reduce neonatal mortality by 35% at the population level at the scale-up sites using its synergistic interventions that target the primary drivers of neonatal mortality through developing competence among health care providers via clinical mentorship and training, renovation of neonatal ICUs at selected hospitals, and supplying basic equipment. The project is funded by the Global Financing Facility and managed by UNICEF Ethiopia. SLL is is currently being implemented at 290 hospitals across Ethiopia, and Hawassa University SLL program alone is working on 73 hospitals.

The visitors held important discussion with Hawassa University's Vice President for Research & Technology Transfer, Dr. Tafesse Matewos, on future opportunities and sustainability of the project outputs.

During the discussion at the university's Senate Meeting Hall, Dr. Emebet Bekele, Director General of OERC, presneted a short overview of the Hawassa University emphasizing on the potentials and success stories of the university in exciting local and international partnership and collaborative projects.