Community Open Houses Expand Primary Care Access in Ethiopia

Bi-annual open house session at Bola Buta Kebele.

Easing Burdens of Health Care Access

“It feels as though services have been brought right to our doorsteps. In the past, mothers had to navigate difficult terrain to get help, but today, we receive better care and counseling without the commute,” explains Tigist Sheferaw.

Tigist is a participant in an approach referred to as “Open House Sessions.” By bringing together health extension workers and local residents, these sessions provide health education, service promotion, and health services delivery. They also mobilize the community to seek services at upgraded comprehensive health posts and enable residents to provide feedback on service delivery and in-kind support.

The Strategy

The bi-annual sessions, led by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with JSI’s Gates Foundation-funded Improve Primary Health Care Service Delivery project, typically run for two to four hours at rural community centers. The sessions cover family planning, antenatal and postnatal care, immunization, nutrition, and hygiene. JSI, working with the MOH, introduced a formal guideline for these sessions, trained staff, and provided the necessary technical assistance.

To ensure high participation, a multi-channel mobilization strategy was deployed and carried out by health extension workers and village health leaders who conducted door-to-door visits. Community leaders played a pivotal role in raising awareness at local gatherings, as well. Attendees include families, young people, respected community and religious leaders. Health providers leading sessions display and disseminate various family planning methods, essential supplements and treatments like iron, vitamin A, zinc, and oral rehydration solutions.

The Impact

In Southwest Ethiopia, the Kob Health Post hosted three open-house sessions with 1,647 participants and reached 1,077 clients with family planning, antenatal care, immunization, nutrition counseling services, and malaria screening. Outpatient department attendance per capita rose from 1.0 in 2023 to 1.6 in 2025.

These sessions drove a measurable increase in service uptake, while strengthening the relationship and trust between health extension workers and the community.