Ethiopia implements strategy to improve national health system

The strategy ranges from prevention to palliative care and places particular emphasis on the reduction of maternal mortality.

health extension workers

Ethiopia launched a national strategy of quality in health care, with the aim of making it more effective, accessible and equitable for all citizens.

“All patients, regardless of age, geographic location or income, will have equal access to reliable and excellent clinical care to protect them from harm and treat them with dignity and respect,” said a new regulation published on 17 April by the Ministry. of Public Health.

The strategy ranges from prevention to palliative care and places special emphasis on the reduction of maternal mortality, as well as the management of severe acute malnutrition that affects around 40 percent of children in the country, as per Prensa Latina.

It also focuses, according to the entity, on the effective treatment of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, which occupies 30 percent of the causes of death in Ethiopia, and the opportunity for surgical services.

According to statistics, this nation of the African Horn managed to reduce the infant mortality rate by almost 70 percent and malaria by 80 percent in the last ten years.

Health teacher Yifru Birehan explained during the 54th annual conference of the Medical Association of Ethiopia, that there are tangible achievements especially in rural communities, through the expansion of health centres and other initiatives.

However, he said, there are still bottlenecks in the sector, among them the shortage of professionals and adequate medical equipment.

For his part, the president of the Medical Association of Ethiopia, Gemechis Mamo, said that the number of medical schools doubled ten times in the last two decades and that the participation of the private sector in the provision of medical services is also increasing.