USAID Donates Refrigerators Worth Over One Million US Dollars to Oromiya, Amhara and SNNP Regions to Support Childhood Immunization in Ethiopia

June 27, 2006
No. 18/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Ethiopia) has donated 717 refrigerators and spare parts to the Regional Health Offices in Oromiya, Amhara and SNNP Regions. The refrigerators, valued at over one  million U.S. Dollars (approximately 11.5 million birr), will be used to strengthen Ethiopia’s childhood immunization program.

Refrigerators designated for the Amhara Region were officially handed over on June 27, 2006 at a ceremony at the Amhara Regional Health Bureau in Bahir Dar in the presence of Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Ethiopia. Also present at the ceremony were Ato Ayalew Gobeze, President of Amhara Region, Dr. Asrat Genet, Head of the Regional Health Bureau, and USAID/Ethiopia’s Acting Mission Director, Dr. Kevin Rushing. The hand-over ceremony followed the inauguration of USAID’s Fistula Project with Bahir Dar Fistula Hospital and Woreta Health Center in the South Gondar zone.

Ethiopia is one of six countries that account for 50% of under-five child deaths worldwide.  About 90% of mortality in young children is caused by pneumonia, neonatal complications, malaria, diarrhea and measles. The majority of these deaths are preventable through access to and use of basic primary health care services, including immunization.  The donation of these refrigerators will support the Ethiopian Government’s innovative program for community health — called the Health Services Extension Program (HSEP) – which seeks to expand healthcare outreach activities and increase access to preventive and promotive health care at the kebele and household levels. 

####