Solomon Abebe Addis has a MS in Social Development Management, a degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology and certificate in Management Development. He has experience working with the government and local NGOs, mostly on youth-related projects. He has a multi-dimensional approach to maternal health and reproductive health issues. Solomon is a believer in networking and connects to society through the various forums and clubs that he manages. He is the founder of Millennium Youth Coalition, an organization that facilitates trainings, workshops, campaigns, and provided health access for rural girls. At his current job, he established a large HIV Network in Ethiopia that comprises more than 800 health organizations which succeeded in providing referral health service for 25,000 destitute HIV positive mothers. Solomon is a strong social media user and discusses maternal health issues on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and contributes to Alliance Newsletter.

Mentor

Dr. Dereje Negussie is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist and has been an assistant Prof. in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Dereje received his post graduate specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Post-Graduate Diploma training in Research Methodology from the Faculty of Life Science at Copenhagen University, in Denmark. His research interest is in maternal health in general and family planning and abortion care in particular. Previously, he led the joint Jimma University-DKT-Ethiopia reproductive health project, the joint Jimma University-Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) international fistula project, and the local chapter of the Ethiopian Society of Obstetrician and Gynecologists. Moreover, he had served as the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Director of the Jimma University specialized hospital.

Project

As a Young Champion, Solomon worked with EngenderHealth Ethiopia to conduct a research on creative ways of upgrading maternal health of HIV positive mothers and network with different parts of the world to share important maternal health best practices.