Ethiopian Review

Addis Ababa – The Social Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives has commended the Ministry of Health for efforts launched to realize universal access, a major program in line with the country’s policy of prioritizing prevention of diseases.

After hearing the ministry’s nine-month performance report on Wednesday, the committee said the ministry deserves commendation for focusing on implementation of works that give priority to children and mothers and the entire public.

Committee chairwoman, Azeb Mesfin said the ministry’s performance showed improvement on an earlier one, and it made efforts to enhance health service coverage through expanded access.

The ministry’s report shows 100 per cent implementation of the target set for the report period concerning universal access to health services.

Concerning construction of health institutions, so far 436 health institutions have been built by GTZ, which signed contract with the ministry on 490 construction projects. The annual plan sets out to have 1,391 health institutions constructed with budgets from donors.

More over, the ministry told the committee, 2,500 health officers have already been deployed while 2,900 candidates were receiving their training.

The ministry also said it has put in place a support package for people highly vulnerable for HIV/AIDS, while it enforced a mechanism enabling the prevention of malaria epidemic.

Implementation of the health extension package launched in collaboration with regional states is promising, with some woredas identified as model targets.

Health training will soon begin in Addis Ababa, and will then be expanded to big cities, it said, adding every local administration (Kebele) will have at least one health station under the universal access program.

Preparations are underway for the construction of a new building complex for Amanuel Hospital at Kotebe area, it said, adding this would enable the hospital to provide more medical services than treatment of people with the mentally impaired.

Some 97 nurses have graduated in mental health care with diploma, and 80 more will be trained towards degree in nursing at the Mekele and Gondar Universities in collaboration with the Amanuel Hospital.

Treatment of children suffering from mental complications had not been given due attention, but now the service has been put in place at the Yekatit hospital, it said.

- ENA