PMC-Ethiopia Launches a Book on Social and Health Issues
Population Media Center-Ethiopia (PMC-E), in partnership with UNFPA, launched a book entitled Yeayn Emagn (“Eyewitness”) that focused on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Child Marriage (CM), family planning (FP), and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). The book contains ten real life stories and was written by six famous writers.
The book launch took place at Central Hawassa Hotel last Friday 19 May 2023. The event was attended by invited guests from the SNNPR concerned bureaus, intervention woreda administrators, jury members of the book from Addis Ababa University, senior writers, and donors (UNFPA).
About PMC-Ethiopia
PMC-Ethiopia is an international non-governmental organization based in the USA that has opened its bureaus in Africa, Asia, and South America. PMC-Ethiopia is celebrating its 25-year anniversary in different countries of the world.
PMC-Ethiopia is specialized in producing radio programs that are entertaining and educative on population, social issues, cultural harmful practices, and human reproductive activities. The programs are multilingual, and research based.
PMC-Ethiopia Country Representative Dr. Hailegnaw Eshete said that PMC-Ethiopia is contributing to a more equitable Ethiopia by addressing FGM, CM, FP, and SGBV. He added that the audiences of the radio dramas are giving testimony about the positive changes they have made in their lives after listening to the programs.
He also underlined that Yeayn Emagn book revolved around the socio-economic problems faced by Ethiopians in general and harmful practices. According to him, the book can help readers to feel and understand what is happening on the ground regarding FGM, CM, FP, and SGBV.
About Yeayn Emagn Book
Yeayn Emagn book is a collection of ten stories that depict the real-life situations of people who have faced or witnessed FGM, CM, FP, and SGBV. The stories are written by six famous writers and edited by associate professor Zerihun Asfaw, who passed away recently and contributed greatly to the book’s quality. The book was published by PMC-E with the support of UNFPA.
Remarks from Stakeholders
W/ro Kuribachew Tanta, SNNPR Women and Children Affairs Bureau Head, gave an opening remark at the book launch. She said that women’s rights and participation have improved over time due to the government’s priority and interventions of NGOs like PMC-E. She said that harmful cultural practices are still affecting women’s health and well-being. She added that SNNPR has around 140 harmful cultural practices, of which FGM and CM are very critical. She prioritized that SNNPR has planned to make zero FGM and CM by 2017 E.C. and the research conducted by Hawassa University in collaboration with her bureau showed that FGM decreased to 21% and CM decreased to 5% in the region. She appreciated PMC-E for its contribution to behavioral change on these issues.
During the book launch ceremony, different social and health issue related books were donated to SNNPR concerned bureaus and woreda offices.
PMC-E recognizes the importance of partnership between different stakeholders to support the population on social and health issues. PMC-E has published 12 books comprising short stories in Amharic and eight booklets in different languages: Afaan Oromoo, Amharic, Tigrigna, Somaligna, Afarigna, and Somaligna. Additionally, PMC-E has also published two short English books: Blood Price and Ditched in the Jungle so far,
