SLL360, in collaboration with the MoH, the Ethiopian Pediatrics Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, conducted a Town Hall meeting at Hawassa combined with a site visit at iKMC implementing facilities on November 13th and 14th. At the conclusion of the town hall, meeting facilities in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray regions, the MoH, the regional health bureaus, and partners have pledged and developed a plan to start iKMC in their regions. 

The event was a collaborative effort by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Ethiopian Pediatrics Society (EPS), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hawassa University, and the Saving Little Lives (SLL) 360 program.

Over 60 participants attended, including mothers, fathers, and family members of preterm babies who experienced Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC), professional associations such as the Ethiopian Pediatrics Society, Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Ethiopian Midwives Association. Representatives from regional health bureaus across Addis Ababa, Sidama, Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray, as well as chief executive officers, medical directors, department heads, physicians, nurses, and midwives from various hospitals, were also in attendance. Key newborn health stakeholders from UNICEF, USAID, IHI, CHAI, JSI, EH, NEST360, SLL 360, and iKMC implementation research team members from Addis Ababa University and Hawassa University also participated.

The main objectives of the meeting were to:

• Highlight the importance and implementation of iKMC in Ethiopia.
• Share personal stories and testimonies from mothers and healthcare providers who have experienced iKMC.
• Provide practical knowledge and skills for iKMC implementation through facility visits, workshops, and simulations.
• Foster collaboration and exchange between local and international experts to enhance iKMC practices in Ethiopia.

The meeting opened with keynote addresses and remarks on the significance of iKMC and SSNC, followed by personal stories from parents and family members about preterm birth and iKMC experiences. Discussions focused on healthcare professionals’ experiences, challenges faced, and suggestions for stakeholders. Hospital managers, department heads, and healthcare providers shared their experiences initiating iKMC, challenges encountered, and recommendations for scaling up iKMC.

Dr. Mahlet, the iKMC implementation research co-investigator, presented the history and status of KMC and iKMC in Ethiopia, followed by a hybrid panel discussion facilitated by Dr. Beena, the vice president of AAP, with contributions from experts from Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and India, discussing perspectives and scaling-up requirements for iKMC.

In the afternoon, participants visited Bushulo MNCH specialty center and Hawassa referral hospital to observe M-NICU setups and hear from healthcare professionals and families about their iKMC experiences.

The second day began with a debriefing on the site visit, focusing on replicating iKMC in other facilities across Ethiopia. The debriefing was followed by a simulation session on iKMC led by implementation and trial study members. The Ministry of Health presented the national policy on iKMC and ongoing efforts to scale up iKMC in Ethiopia. Participants were divided into five teams organized by region to hear from iKMC facilities about their experience and develop plans for scaling up iKMC in their respective areas. Teams described their processes, challenges, and strategies for introducing iKMC, developing action plans for post-meeting implementation, and identifying critical support needed.

The meeting concluded with a panel discussion featuring key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, regional health bureaus, UNICEF, USAID, and BMGF, focused on addressing the support required to scale up iKMC as part of the SSNC in their respective sites.