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US official praises country's
health sector improvement, vows to extend support |
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 ADDIS
ABEBA(August 12,2008) - US Secretary of Department
of Health and Human Service on Monday commended Ethiopia's achievements
in the health sector, particularly on HIV/AIDS and Malaria, and pledged
more support for the success to carry on.
The secretary was speaking at a joint press conference with his counter
part Dr Tewodros Adhanom, Health Minister of Ethiopia and Abune Paulos
Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Church after visiting St Peters Hospital
in Addis Ababa which currently engaged in giving services to tuberculosis
patients.
US Secretary of Micheal O Leavitt said US aimed not only to give substantial
amount of aid to the sector but also to improve the infrastructure
health facilities in the country.
According to US Department of Health and Human Services, United States
of America is, currently, providing more than 103 million USD in health
care and services to the people of Ethiopia in fiscal year 2008 through
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
These dollars support PEPFAR and its Malaria Initiative, measles and
polio immunizations, protection against seasonal and avian influenza,
support of refugee health, research, and health care training and
hands-on experience for Ethiopians.
"It is an extraordinary continuation of this support, and even
the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in
human history," the secretary said, while speaking on PEPFAR,
which positioned Ethiopia among the 15 countries benefited from the
initiative.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's goal of the initiative
is to reach 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups, children under
the age of five and pregnant women, with proven and effective prevention
and treatment measures.
U.S. financial commitment to the fight against global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis,
and malaria, authorizing up to $48 billion to combat the three diseases
including other additional funds, according to the Secretary.
Apart from supporting those affected and/or infected with different
diseases, according to the Secretary, US will further focus on the
capacity building in the areas of the health sector.
The Secretary's four day visit here aimed at checking the progress
being made by US supported health initiatives.
During his stay, the Secretary paid visits to hospitals, clinics and
research facilities, including Addis Ababa University, and travel
to rural areas to see how the country address the challenges of delivering
care in remote locations.
Admiring the ever increasing US support to Ethiopia, Health Minister
Dr Tewodros Adhanom on his part said the support was now showing a
huge result in the country.
"Our health system which is currently under development, is among
the key area where the mutual agreement is being shown," the
minister said.
When it is finished, according to Dr Tewodros the future of the health
sector will heavily impose itself on the system, which is being carried
out with a support of the US government.
"We are doing the operational plan together with their researchers
based on our priority," he said.
Apart from Health Extension Worker Program, Secretary Leavitt pays
visit to US supported initiatives working on in removing the stigma
from illness as well as improving the lives of those who suffer in
the wake of illness.
The visit includes an initiative working on Faith and Science combine
for strong medicine around Entoto, home to "tsebel" (a spring
of holy water believed to heal the sick).
The Secretary also commends the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for its
role in encouraging the "powerful combination of medicine and
the holy water" |
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