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By Andualem Sisay - Capital
23 February 2007
The Carter Center supplied three million long-lasting insecticide-impregnated bed nets to support the Ethiopian government’s program of distributing 20 mln bed nets by the end of July 2007.
“Malaria preys on Ethiopia’s youth, destroying lives and jeopardizing the country’s future,” said former United States President Carter, after distributing long-lasting insecticide-impregnated bed nets on Tuesday February 13, 2007 in Afeta, a community of 7,500 people in Jimma zone.
Distribution of these bed nets began in January. “It is our goal to help provide long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, free of charge, to all members of at-risk communities to help put a stop to the needless deaths caused by this mosquito-transmitted disease.”
With donations such as from the Global Fund and the Carter Center, so far the government of Ethiopia has secured money for purchasing and distributing some 18.4 mln bed nets. “Out of this figure, we have already imported 11.5 mln bed nets and the remaining are on the way, says Minister of Health, Dr Tewodros Adhanom. “Although, we still need 1.6 mln bed nets, hopefully, we will meet our target of distributing 20 mln within the coming six months.”
The total cost to fully implement the program is estimated at 100 mln USD. Out of this, the Carter Center has covered the cost of three mln bed nets, which is equivalent to some 18 mln USD, including the distribution cost.
The program is to give two bed nets for each family. With the assumption of
five members in one family, the government is planning to supply ten mln families
who are living in malaria prevalent areas of the country. It is estimated
that there are 50 million Ethiopians who are at risk of malaria.
The national bed net program could save 60,000 to 100,000 lives per year in
Ethiopia. For proper net distribution and usage, the Ministry of Health has
trained 17,000 health extension workers for the implementation of the campaign.
Briefing journalists after his visit, Mr. Carter indicated his center’s commitment
to continue solving the shortage of health professionals in Ethiopia, which
is also the common phenomenon of most African states, by supporting the government
strategy of producing middle level health professionals such as
nurses and health extension workers in quantity in a short period of time.
Currently the center is supporting the training of 2,166 health professionals
who now have gone half way of the one year theoretical and two years practical
training to become professional.
In 1991, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi invited former U.S. President
Jimmy Carter to work with his ministries of health and education to help train
health care personnel for the East African country.
In 1997 the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative was launched. Working with seven Ethiopian universities, the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative is pairing Ethiopian teaching staff with international experts to develop curricula and learning materials for health promotion based on local experience.
Teachers and professors are using these materials to train public health students, who, in turn, train and manage community health workers, building a community health infrastructure to improve health outcomes and access to care.
In partnership with the Lions Clubs International and the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control, the Center also helps provide drug treatment and health education every year to more than 2.5 million Ethiopians at risk of river blindness.
The Carter Center’s work in Ethiopia has been diverse, involving other disease control and eradication programs, agriculture and food security development, conflict mediation, election monitoring, and the promotion of human rights and health education.
The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.