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Ethiopia wants Indian hospitals as healthcare hub for Africa


Indo-Asian News Service

Impressed with some of India's private hospitals and the quality of healthcare they provide, Ethiopia wants them to open branches in that country so that they become a medical hub for entire Africa.

An Ethiopian delegation was in India this week with the twin aim of learning from India's health sector and small and medium enterprises.

"We felt that it will mutually benefit Ethiopians and the Indian private sector if they come to Ethiopia, especially Addis Ababa, and open branches, so that they attract not only Ethiopians but also other Africans," Redwan Hussien, head of the delegation.

The delegation, which included the health minister of the Addis Ababa city administration, met representatives of private hospital chains like Fortis Healthcare and Moolchand Healthcare.

"In the last seven-eight years, we have been growing at double digits and the middle class has been booming, so people can afford to go out of the country for medical treatment," said Hussien, a senior official in the city administration.

Addis Ababa, a city of 3.3 million, is also home to a substantial number of foreigners. It is the headquarters of the African Union and other international institutions. "Since Ethiopian Airlines is a major African airways, Addis Ababa is also a major transit point for Africans from other countries," said Hussien.

But there is no equivalent level of specialized medical treatment available inside the country. "Most people travel to South Africa, or Bangkok or come all the way to India," he said.

After discussions with private health providers, Hussien said that "Fortis Bangalore were really interested in going to Addis Ababa."

A memorandum of understanding is being drafted and may be signed soon.

Hussien said space will be given in an existing Ethiopian hospital to set up a specialized treatment unit. Also, Indian doctors will be teaching their Ethiopian counterparts as part of the transfer of technology.

On the small and medium enterprises sector, Ethiopia is also looking towards Indian trainers to come to Africa. "We want Indian experts to come and teach in about 4-5 areas that we have drawn up," he said.

The delegation also met with the Mayor of Delhi Prithviraj Sawhney and invited him to visit Ethiopia.

U.S. government to invest 387 million to support Ethiopia's Health Care Sector

Source: US Embassy

In 2010 the United States will invest U.S. $387 million to support the health care sector in Ethiopia.

Assistance is provide through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Agency for International Development’s (USAID) health programs, the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among others.
The United States’ programs are aligned with Ethiopia’s five-year Health Sector Development Plan.

The U.S. government is strongly committed to the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Under PEPFAR, the U.S. has committed approximately U.S. $32 billion towards HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs worldwide. Ethiopia is a major recipient of PEPFAR support and has already received nearly U.S. $1.52 billion to support its comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs.

The United States has made significant investments in Ethiopia’s health sector infrastructure through the construction and renovation of hospitals, regional laboratories, health centers and pharmaceutical warehouses.

Highlights of U.S. investment in Ethiopia’s health care sector include (but are not limited to):

• The U.S. provides Ethiopia with U.S. $128 million in support for strengthening health services, including the Ethiopian Health Management Information System, access to care for HIV and TB patients, laboratory facilities, and epidemic response.
• The U.S. has provided financial and technical support to the Ethiopia’s national Health Extension Program, trained 17,600 health extension workers and supervisors, and provided technical support to 550 health centers around the country.
• The U.S., in an effort to support Ethiopia’s child survival interventions, has improved access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in four major regions of Ethiopia (Oromiya, Amhara, SNNPR, and Tigray).
• The U.S. is funding a 2010 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey to support monitoring and evaluation needs by tracking changes in health indicators. The survey will collect data on family health, including immunization and the prevalence and treatment of diarrhea and other diseases.
• The U.S. extended diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines to 850,000 infants, and over 1.1 million Ethiopian children under five received vitamin A supplements in 2009.
• The U.S. also helped establish new financial systems at 66 government hospitals and 782 health centers. In 2009, 28 hospitals and 22 health centers received automated health management information systems.
• The U.S. helped build sex-segregated latrines and hand-washing facilities in 1,152 schools, benefitting 487,896 female students, teachers and school principles.
• More than 900,000 HIV infected and affected adults and children receive care and there are 186,000 people receiving antiretroviral therapy with support from the U.S. government. Maintaining a strong emphasis on prevention has resulted in over 6 million people being tested for HIV in 2009.
• The U.S. supports pharmaceutical infrastructure and provides essential drugs and supplies as part of an overall U.S. $200 million investment. The equipment will help to strengthen Ethiopia’s capacity to safely distribute drugs and supplies, including those for HIV/AIDS.
• The U.S. continues to carry out malaria-control interventions and distribute vital commodities to vulnerable Ethiopian populations.

CDC Director Visits Ethiopia and Public Health Programs

Addis Ababa, June 8, 2010 --

This afternoon, Dr. Teodros Adhanom, Minister of Health, warmly welcomed a productive discussion with Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States of America and Dr. Kevin DeCock, Director of the Center for Global Health. Dr. Frieden, a US government public health official, is visiting Ethiopia from June 8 until June 12, 2010.

Their discussion covered topics such as America’s collaboration with Ethiopia to expand health service delivery, strengthening the health workforce, laboratory systems, as well as information systems strengthening for detecting and responding to epidemics, infrastructure development and attaining health services delivery targets, especially prevention and reduction in mortality from HIV/AiDs, TB, malaria, and childbirth. Dr. Frieden expressed his support and appreciation for the commitment that the Ministry of Health is making to strengthen its national health sector and commended Dr. Adhanom for leading the way forward.

CDC provides Ethiopia with $128 million in support for strengthening health services, including the Ethiopian Health Management Information System (HMIS), health service delivery for HIV and TB, surveillance and survey activities, laboratory, and epidemic response through Present’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding.
Dr. Frieden also spent time discussing maternal and neonatal mortality as well as tuberculosis in Ethiopia. Maternal mortality is currently the top priority for the Ethiopian Ministry of Health as well as within the United States President Obama’s Global Health Initiative.

Dr. Frieden expressed enthusiasm for the Ethiopian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (EFELTP); a program that CDC-Ethiopia began in early 2009. The purpose of the EFELTP is to develop a cadre of highly skilled public health professionals that will strengthen the capacity of the MOH and Regional Health Bureaus.

During his visit, Dr. Frieden will observe several HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment as well as maternal health programs in both Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Dr. Frieden will tour different hospitals supported by CDC-Ethiopia including Bishoftu, St. Peters Specialized TB Hospital, and Zewditu. Dr. Frieden will also observe the National Health Extension Workers Program in Dire Dawa and present a public lecture on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the Addis Ababa University Auditorium. The lecture is entitled, “Global Non-Communicable Diseases.” Dr. Kevin DeCock, Director of the Center for Global Health will also present updates on global HIV/AIDS.

Successful Immigrant Returns To Ethiopia, Brings His Hometown Their First Ambulance

Sebri Omer emigrated from Ethiopia to the United States as a young man and began to seek the American Dream. He went to college and now has a family and a successful small business, as owner of a gas station.

When he returned to Ethiopia, however, he was shocked by what he saw. Rampant disease and a desperate need for a hospital in his hometown of Harar. He sold half of his businesses and began to fund such a hospital. Just recently, he delivered to Harar the town's very first ambulance.

Threat of paralysis stops surgeon's work to treat Ethiopian man's scoliosis

Yalew Birkie Assefa hoped American doctors could straighten his twisted spine.

The Ethiopian man's first surgery April 29 went well. But surgeons had to stop his second 10-hour surgery a week later. A few hours in, they discovered that straightening his spine would likely paralyze him.

"His spinal cord was telling us it wouldn't allow us to do the correction," said his surgeon, Dr. Geoffrey Cronen.

Cronen and another surgeon, Dr. Anthony P. Moreno, were part of a pro-bono medical team that volunteered its services to perform the surgeries at University Community Hospital in Tampa. Debbie Ordes, president of the Palm Harbor chapter of the Scoliosis Association, helped arrange Assefa's procedure with the team after he contacted her online three years ago, asking for help.

During Thursday's surgery, instruments monitored what was going on with Assefa's spinal cord, Cronen said.

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