ABH Partners and the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation (EHF) successfully hosted a SafeCare Sensitization Workshop on November 15, 2025, bringing together key leaders, board members, and prominent figures from the private healthcare sector to promote and strengthen awareness of the SafeCare healthcare quality certification program, now being implemented in Ethiopia. 

The event served as a major milestone in advancing national awareness and commitment to SafeCare and underscored the shared dedication to elevating healthcare quality and patient safety across the country.

SafeCare is internationally accredited quality improvement program that equips health facilities with a digital platform to identify service gaps, implement improvements, and track progress through its structured rating assessment. 

The program has been formally endorsed by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation (EHF), reflecting its strong alignment with national priorities for healthcare quality, safety, and accountability.

The workshop was honored by the presence of distinguished guests who emphasized the national importance of the SafeCare initiative;

• Mr. Nesredin Nursebo, Healthcare Quality Lead, FDRE Ministry of Health

• Dr. Girma Ababi, Vice President, Ethiopian Healthcare Federation

• Dr. Fuad Temam, President, Ethiopian Private Hospitals and Centers Association

• Dr. Mengistu Tafesse & Dr. Amare Deribew, Senior Management, ABH Partners

The session opened with impactful remarks from Mr. Nesredin Nursebo, who highlighted the essential role of innovation and quality improvement in strengthening Ethiopia’s healthcare system. He reiterated the Ministry of Health’s endorsement of SafeCare as a vital approach to guide the private sector’s quality journey, fully aligned with national goals toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He concluded by presenting the National Quality & Safety Strategy, outlining the Ministry’s roadmap for sustained, system-wide quality enhancement.

A series of insightful presentations followed, offering participants a deeper understanding of SafeCare’s global relevance and regional achievements.

• Mr. John Dekker, Senior Data Quality Manager, PharmAccess, introduced SafeCare’s unique features and its benefits to healthcare facilities.

• Mr. Mohammedamin Adel, Quality Manager, SafeCare Ethiopia, explained the program’s international impact and detailed the five-phase implementation plan for Ethiopia.

• Ms. Mary Njoki, Quality Assurance & Capacity Building Lead, SafeCare Kenya, shared compelling regional results, reporting that 2,136 Kenyan facilities are enrolled in SafeCare, with 92 achieving Level 4 or Level 5 certification. She noted that 68% of participating facilities improved their SafeCare scores—demonstrating the program’s measurable impact.

• Dr. Firaol Dandena, Director of Quality & Patient Safety, Cure Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia, presented his hospital’s quality improvement journey and highlighted its recognition as the only Level 5 SafeCare–certified hospital in Ethiopia.

The presentations led into a dynamic Question and Answer session, reflecting strong interest among private healthcare facilities in adopting the SafeCare program. The workshop concluded with remarks from Dr. Amare Deribew, who reviewed SafeCare’s development in Ethiopia—from initial planning to successful early implementation. Dr. Girma Ababi and Mr. John Dekker further supported the discussion by addressing remaining questions and offering additional insights.

About the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation (EHF)

The Ethiopian Healthcare Federation (EHF) is the largest and most influential umbrella organization representing non-state and private healthcare actors in Ethiopia. Established in 2019 through Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) forums initiated by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the World Bank, EHF plays a critical role in supporting national health priorities. It comprises 25 member associations representing more than 25,000 professionals and organizations across all 12 regions and 2 administrative cities of Ethiopia, collectively contributing to strengthened healthcare delivery nationwide.