Ethiopia News

Addis Ababa, 5 May 2025 — Ethiopia launched the global commemoration of World Health Day 2025 with a spirited “Walk the Talk” event at the scenic Entoto Park in Addis Ababa. Held on the morning of 27 April, the event brought together a vibrant cross-section of society—government officials, UN representatives, health workers, families, and citizens—united in a shared commitment to promote maternal and newborn health under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”

On 24 March 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced to the Berlin Physiological Society that he had discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). This landmark discovery revolutionised the understanding and treatment of TB. By isolating and culturing the microorganism, Dr Koch laid the foundation for effective diagnostic and treatment methods that have since saved countless lives. In recognition of his pioneering work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905.

Integration has emerged as a cornerstone strategy in Ethiopia’s efforts to accelerate the reduction of zero-dose (ZD) children—those who have not received a single routine vaccination. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Integration Resource Guide, integrating health services, such as vaccination programs, significantly enhance resource efficiency and improves overall healthcare delivery.

Ethiopia has made notable progress in its efforts to reduce the number of zero-dose (ZD) children, these are children who have not received any routine vaccinations. As of April 8, 2025, the country has reached 958,725 children, representing 24% of the estimated 3.9 million zero-dose children nationwide. This marks a significant increase from 16% coverage in December 2024, with nearly 100,000 children vaccinated in just the past two months.

For Meseret Gelaw, a mother in Furustale village of Jimma town in Oromia region, ensuring that her 8-month-old son receives every necessary vaccine is a matter of life and health. 

“I want my child to grow up healthy, free from diseases like polio. When I heard about the vaccination campaign, I made sure he was among the first to receive the polio vaccine,” Meseret shared, holding her son tightly after the procedure.

Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy a

Ethiopia has taken a significant step in strengthening its public health emergency response capacity with the successful completion of the 3rd cohort African Volunteers Health Corps - Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies Corps (AVoHC-SURGE) Onboarding Training in Adama city 13th January to 13th February 2025.

Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to global health security by submitting its annual health security assessment, known as the State Party Self-Assessment Annual Report (SPAR), to the World Health Assembly (WHA). This mandatory report, required under Article 54 of the International Health Regulations (IHR), evaluates the country's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health risks.

The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization Ethiopia country office and other key partners, has officially launched the 7th Edition of the Ethiopian Essential Medicines List (EML). This milestone underscores Ethiopia’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines for all.