Ethiopia News

The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, has made significant strides in providing first-line support (FLS) for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in the Tigray region. In November and December 2023, 350 health extension workers (HEWs) based in Tigray participated in specialized training designed to equip them with the skills necessary to offer practical care and emotional support to survivors, all while respecting their privacy and dignity.

The recently designated World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, formally presented his credentials to H.E. Melaku Bedada, Director General of Protocol Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking the official commencement of his tenure in Ethiopia.

Offering a warm reception to Dr. Kaluwa, the Director General, H.E. Melaku Bedada, expressed deep appreciation for WHO's strong commitment in deploying expertise and resources towards attainment of universal health coverage in Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa ‒ Fourteen-year-old girl Saba. D. (name changed), from Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, has just received her first and final dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer. This cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Ethiopia after breast cancer and each year significant number of women die from it.

Ethiopia is facing one of its most severe humanitarian crises in recent history, with millions of lives at risk due to widespread hunger, disease outbreaks, conflict, and climate-related challenges. As the situation continues to deteriorate, urgent action is needed to prevent further suffering and loss of life.

Ethiopia's conflict-affected regions faced many challenges, including communication disruptions, power outages, and supply shortages.  As of May 2023, 22.8 million people in Ethiopia faced food insecurity, lacking sufficient food for consumption.

In the districts of Sidama, Central, and South Ethiopia, access to healthcare is often challenging, exacerbated by various health emergencies such as communicable diseases outbreaks, including malaria, measles, and cholera. These regions, particularly in identified hotspot districts, face multifaceted health emergencies like drought, malnutrition, conflicts, displacement, and floods, coupled with poor access to health services and infrastructure.

In the wake of the internal armed conflict that ravaged the regions of Northern Ethiopia from November 2020 to November 2022, health information infrastructure suffered severe disruptions, hampering the timely reporting of critical health data. Notably, reporting of notifiable diseases plummeted to as low as 15% during the peak of the conflict, while regular monthly reporting for the District Health Information System (DHIS) came to a standstill due to widespread information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure damage.

Ethiopia has taken a significant step forward in fortifying its emergency response capabilities through the implementation of the One Health Rapid Response Team (OHRRT) training. Organized by key stakeholders including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the National One Health Steering Committee. 

This initiative demonstrates Ethiopia's unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health.

Addis Ababa, March 24, 2024
Ethiopia commemorated World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) with renewed resolve, hosting a series of events, including a TB Research Conference held in the capital, Addis Ababa, from March 22nd to 23rd, 2024, to raise awareness about the global fight against Tuberculosis (TB).