Elder Mutombo Visits Church-Funded UNICEF Projects in Ethiopia

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From April 27 to April 30, 2026, Elder Mutombo, accompanied by the Church’s Humanitarian and Welfare Department team, toured humanitarian aid sites in Debre Berhan and Wolayta Sodo, Ethiopia, witnessing first-hand the transformative impact of the Church’s partnership with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).

The visit, which included stops at the Debre Berhan Health Science College to view a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) project, and community health sites in the Wolayta Zone, showcased how Church funds are directly reducing maternal and newborn deaths and reaching thousands of “zero-dose” children, those who have not received a single routine vaccination.

“We are grateful, and this has been an eye-opening experience for me,” Elder Mutombo said during the visit. “I am humbled to be here and to see the great work that you are doing on the ground.”

Reaching the ‘Invisible’ Children

In the Wolayta Zone, one of three zones in Ethiopia supported by UNICEF, the burden of children with missing vaccinations has been severe. Prior to this intervention, the zone recorded 64,427 zero-dose children and 129,226 under-vaccinated children. The vast majority (88%) of these children were concentrated in districts where UNICEF and the Church are now operating.

Through funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a large-scale house-to-house enumeration was deployed. In Damot Pulassa woreda alone, an estimated 4,207 zero-dose and 8,439 under-vaccinated children were identified.

The results have been dramatic. As of March 30, 2026, the project documented substantial reductions in zero-dose and under-vaccinated children. In Damot Pulassa, 4,025 zero-dose and 4,162 under-vaccinated children (aged 12-59 months) were identified and 100% vaccinated.

Additionally, 13,951 children under five without birth certificates were identified and issued certificates, while 1,467 previously unscreened children were linked to nutritional services.

A Mother’s Gratitude

At the Zemene Wulisho Health Post, Elder Mutombo met Bizunash Abera, who held her three-month-old daughter, Ruhama, during her third vaccination visit. “I am happy to know now that this vaccination can prevent my child from different deaths,” Bizunash said, expressing relief and gratitude for the outreach extended to her family.

‘I Consider That Child as My Own’

The Church-funded project has also strengthened the frontline health workforce. Tsedekech Dawit, a health extension worker and mother of three children (ages 2, 5, and 12), was asked what it feels like to participate in the project. Her answer was deeply personal: “As a mother and health professional, when I help a baby, I consider that child as my own.”

Tsedekech is one of 982 health extension workers and 470 health workers trained under the project, which also engaged 707 churches and 33 mosques in community mobilization.

Strengthening Maternal and Newborn Care in Debre Berhan

In Debre Berhan, Elder Mutombo and the Humanitarian and Welfare Department team visited the CPD project at the Debre Berhan Health Science College. Since 2022, the Church has provided $1,320,338 in funding to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

The project renovated a CPD training center, nationally accredited 13 maternal and newborn health training documents, trained 58 healthcare workers, and provided ongoing clinical mentorship to 156 providers across 10 hospitals and 8 health centers.

These efforts address the fact that, despite national progress, approximately 6,500 mothers and 95,000 newborns still die each year in Ethiopia from preventable complications.

‘You Are All Amazing’

Throughout the four-day visit, Elder Mutombo repeatedly expressed his deep humility and admiration for the health workers, mothers, and local leaders sustaining this work.

“I am humbled to witness what is going on here,” he said. “You are all amazing. You are all like angels. You are doing amazing work helping these mothers, and the children, and providing support to them.”

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from the Church, through its Humanitarian and Welfare Department and ongoing partnership with UNICEF, to ensure that no child is left behind, even in the most remote settlements and hardest-to-reach villages of Ethiopia.