Prevention of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP) Project
With funding from Health Partners International Canada (HPIC), Emmanuel Development Association (EDA) implemented a project to address harmful traditional practices (HTPs) affecting women and girls in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, Amhara Region. The project worked with community leaders, religious leaders, traditional healers, and local influencers to raise awareness of the health risks associated with HTPs, building a community-wide movement for protection and change.
Key achievements include conducting community conversations with diverse community actors to raise awareness of HTP health risks; facilitating medical support for two women with fistula, covering treatment and transport costs; reaching 1,560 schoolgirls with educational materials and brochures to empower them to understand their rights and protect themselves from HTPs; and providing essential medical equipment — including thermometers and blood pressure apparatus — to two health facilities to strengthen their capacity to address HTP-related health issues.
Key Activities & Deliverables
Community Advocacy & Rights Awareness
- Local Dialogue Mobilisation: Conducted targeted community conversations involving diverse local actors—including community leaders, religious leaders, traditional healers, and local influencers—to build a unified movement against Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs).
- Schoolgirl Empowerment: Reached 1,560 schoolgirls with educational materials and specialized informational brochures designed to help them understand their rights and protect themselves from HTP risks.
Direct Medical Interventions & Facility Support
- Fistula Patient Care: Fully funded and facilitated essential medical support, covering both specialized clinical treatment and transportation costs, for two women suffering from obstetric fistula.
- Health System Capacity Building: Provided vital medical equipment—including diagnostic thermometers and blood pressure apparatuses—to two regional health facilities to strengthen their capacity to manage and treat HTP-related health complications.