FROM THE ASHES OF WAR: A NEW CHAPTER FOR WAJIRAT’S YOUNG WOMEN.

Wajirat woreda, a rural district in Tigray, has faced immense challenges over the years, but the war from 2020 to 2022 left a lasting impact on its communities, particularly on adolescent girls and young women. Health systems collapsed, education was disrupted, and many families were forced to make difficult decisions just to survive. For many young women, this meant dropping out of school, early marriage, and a lack of access to basic health services, including family planning.

Health facilities were damaged, leaving young mothers with limited or no access to essential health care. The closure of schools forced many girls to stay home, and in a time of economic and social crisis, early marriage became a survival strategy for some families. The breakdown of health services meant that adolescent girls and women who needed contraception had nowhere to turn, leading to unintended pregnancies and increased health risks.

RESTORING ACCESS TO SERVICES

In 2024, as the region worked to restore essential services, the Smart Start program was introduced to support married adolescent girls and young women in conflict-affected woredas, including Wajirat. The program aimed to increase access to family planning information and services, ensuring that those who sought them could receive them without judgment or unnecessary barriers.

Health Extension Workers (HEWs) were trained to offer counseling that combined reproductive health with financial planning, making the information more relevant to young married girls. The program also worked with the Women’s Development Army (WDA) and community leaders to help address misconceptions and cultural barriers that had long limited access to contraception. These included the belief that family planning promotes promiscuity, that contraception causes infertility, and the social expectation that newly married girls should become mothers immediately to prove their fertility.

MEETING A CRITICAL NEED

Initially, the goal was to reach 240 new family planning acceptors among adolescent girls. However, by the end of 2024, 288 girls had accessed modern contraceptive methods, surpassing expectations by 20%. Additionally, 364 repeat users returned for continued services, a sign that more young women were becoming aware of their options and making informed choices. This success was made possible through the joint effort of the Wajirat Woreda Health Office, PSI Ethiopia, and the Tigray Regional Health Bureau. The program benefited from supportive supervision visits, integration of Smart Start into routine services, and strong community engagement led by Health Extension Workers and WDA members.

A LASTING IMPACT

The impact of the war did not end when the fighting stopped. Many of the challenges that arose during the conflict continued to affect daily life, particularly for adolescent girls and young women. However, the Smart Start program has helped integrate family planning into Wajirat’s health system, making these services more accessible and available to those who need them.

The Woreda Health Office has now incorporated Smart Start into its annual work plan, ensuring long-term support. A steering committee has been set up to monitor progress, and discussions are already underway to expand the initiative to other districts. Data reporting has improved, making it easier to track service delivery and address gaps.

LOOKING AHEAD

While the war took a toll on Wajirat’s communities, efforts to restore health services and increase awareness about reproductive health have brought positive changes. Access to family planning services has helped young women avoid unintended pregnancies, stay in school longer, and make informed decisions about their futures.

The road ahead is still challenging, but Wajirat Woreda has shown us what’s possible. Now, the question is: where will we go next?

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