Addressing Maternal Mortality Through Heart Care in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, like many low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, faces alarmingly high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. Among the leading contributors are cardiovascular diseases in women of reproductive age, particularly rheumatic heart disease.

To tackle this critical issue, the Global Heartcare Foundation in collaboration with St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) and Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia/Cardiac Center in Addis Ababa is launching a Women Heartcare Program in Ethiopia. SPHMMC is one of the country’s largest public teaching hospitals, and its collaboration with the dedicated cardiac charity CHFE is backed by a formal legal framework.

The program aims to reduce deaths related to maternal heart disease through a cardio-obstetric team approach, ensuring women with heart conditions receive specialized, coordinated care. While the primary beneficiaries are women with cardiovascular disease, the program also supports the health of their babies and strengthens Ethiopia’s broader maternal health system.