U.S. Government Donates Training Equipment worth $250,000 for Health Services Extension Program

May 18, 2006
No. 12/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- On Thursday, May 18, 2006, Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, the United States Chargé d’Affaires, presented training equipment and supplies to the Minister of Health, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, in support of the Ministry’s National Health Services Extension Program.  The ceremony, held at the Addis Ababa office of Pathfinder International, recognized the importance of the Extension Program and the critical role that health extension workers play in the expansion of health services throughout Ethiopia.  The ceremony also recognized the successful partnership between the Ministry of Health and the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The equipment, procured by Pathfinder International with USAID funding, will be used to train health extension workers at Technical Education and Vocational Training Schools.  Donated materials and supplies include first aid and safe delivery kits and also equipment for use in the care of women’s health.

In her remarks at the ceremony Ambassador Huddleston congratulated the Ministry of Health for the realization of their vision to expand health services, and applauded the efforts of the new health extension workers to ensure the health and well being of Ethiopian families well into the future. 

The Health Services Extension Program is designed to increase access to preventive health care at the kebele and household levels by deploying thousands of trained health extension workers to rural areas of the country.  The goal of the Ministry of Health is to train 28,000 health extension workers, most of whom are women, and station two of them in health posts in every kebele in the country.  Currently, 9,900 health extension workers have been deployed to different areas and have started providing health services.

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