We are pleased to announce that the Woldiya Maternity Center has been featured in the Architecture Guide to the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals Vol. 2. This architectural project, located in Woldya, Ethiopia, addresses a critical issue: the high maternal and infant mortality rate, which reflects the health disparities between rich and poor nations.
The center was designed to provide a safe environment for both pregnant women and newborns, with its most innovative element being its “waiting village.” Inspired by traditional Ethiopian houses, this village offers future mothers from rural areas a safe and healthy space while waiting for labor.
This design reduces risks and encourages the creation of a community among the women, who share experiences and support each other during the final stages of pregnancy.
The maternity medical area consists of three concrete volumes connected by glass corridors and operates independently thanks to solar energy, making it more resilient to power outages.
This project represents a significant step towards improving maternal and infant health in Ethiopia, and its inclusion in the UN publication highlights the importance of sustainable and humanitarian architecture in the fight against global inequalities.
https://www.uia-architectes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/architecture_guide_un17_vol.2_optimized_for_web.pdf
