making a difference:
yalelet fentaw , Bsc, mph

SCOPE Project Manager, Yalelet Fentaw, played a vital role in the success of the Leading Advances in the Uptake of Newborn Community Health project (LAUNCH).  Yalelet brings more than 6 years of experience in Nursing and Nutrition in a variety of roles to his work with SCOPE. Working at the University of Gondar, Yalelet led study operations throughout the LAUNCH project and is a key reason for its success.

In addition to his professional role and contributions, Yalelet is also a deacon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC).  As a deacon, he knows that faith leaders hold respected, influential positions within their communities, and their support can be instrumental in gaining trust, creating cultural alignment, and promoting meaningful change. Yalelet emphasized that SCOPE’s mission to “work with faith leaders offers a unique and impactful opportunity to foster sustainable, community-driven health and wellness initiatives.”  Part of what drew Yalelet to SCOPE was the opportunity to create respectful, sustainable, and impactful health programs that are welcomed and supported by the community. Yalelet adds, “This partnership allows for deeper, more inclusive engagement and helps transform health efforts into community-driven, lasting changes.”

Fostering Community Involvement

Yalalet enjoys making a tangible impact and improvements in community health such as decreasing the rate of malnutrition and measured improvements in child health.  “Knowing that your work is directly contributing to people’s well-being can be one of the most motivating aspects” of his work.  He adds that, “the opportunity to build relationships with community members and local health workers brings a strong sense of purpose.”  Not only do these relationships lead to lasting bonds, they also build capacity within the community as they gain the tools and knowledge to improve their own outcomes.  

For example, imagine a SCOPE team working in a rural Ethiopian village where malnutrition rates are high. During a community gathering, a local elder, faith leader and mothers from the health development army (HDA) respected by the community, come together to talk about child nutrition practices. Initially, the elder is hesitant, holding traditional views that seem to differ from the proposed nutritional interventions.

However, as the team respectfully engages the leader, explaining the importance of diverse diets and proper feeding practices for children, the elder begins to see the benefit of these teachings. The faith leader then addresses the gathered families, endorsing the new practices and encouraging parents to attend the workshops and implement the advice shared by the health workers. Their endorsement not only legitimizes the health workers’ advice but also shifts community perceptions in favor of these improved nutritional practices.

As a result, the community gradually embraces these changes, and over time, parents report that their children seem healthier and are falling sick less often. The elder continues to serve as an advocate, bridging any gaps between traditional practices and modern health recommendations, creating a sustainable change in the community’s approach to health and nutrition.

Challenges

Yalelet says that while “working in a culturally rich setting like Ethiopia also allows for meaningful cultural exchanges, enhances mutual respect, and can make the work both insightful and enjoyable,” challenges also are present.  Logistical and infrastructure hurdles create barriers to delivery of care.  Ethiopia’s rural areas can be difficult to access due to poor roads and other infrastructure.  These challenges complicated data collection and outreach during the LAUNCH project. 

The Big Picture

Overall, Yalelet along with governmental health officials have seen reduced malnutrition in children as evidenced by improvements in growth and development.  Community ownership and knowledge have also improved.  He notes that “SCOPE’s work in educating and mobilizing communities helps build resilience making them more adaptable so they can handle future health challenges in the face of food scarcity or other environmental hardships.  Yalelet adds that perhaps the most notable outcome is the empowerment of women and mothers “by equipping them with knowledge and resources.  This, in turn, contributes to gender equality and more balance community leadership.”

The Future

There is still much work to be done to build community ownership and capacity.  Yalelet notes that the work that SCOPE projects have done for the community has made a difference and that “by aligning strategies with national priorities and focusing on enhancing healthcare delivery at the community level, SCOPE has the potential to significantly impact maternal and child health outcomes in Ethiopia.”

Yalelet has played a vital role in SCOPE’s work and we are grateful for his expertise and commitment to improving health in the community.