Ethiopia News

Following an on-sight assessment by a team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Influenza Laboratory of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) has been recognized as a World Health Organization (WHO) National Influenza Centre (NIC) and joined the WHO global influenza surveillance network. The on-site assessment was performed by a WHO team composed of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Lead, a technical specialist from the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and a laboratory coordinator from the WHO Ethiopia Country Office.

The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia launched a Five-Year National Health Equity Strategy on 18 August 2022 during a one-day high-level advocacy workshop. The workshop, jointly organized with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ethiopia brought together representatives from Social Development, Culture, and Sports Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, sector ministries, regional health bureaus, city administrations, academia, professional associations, donors and development partners. 

World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated worldwide in the first week of August to emphasize the importance of regular breastfeeding for babies and to encourage and support breastfeeding. The week also marks the anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration – the UN declaration on breastfeeding that was made on August 1, 1990. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually across 170 countries through different activities, forums, and outreach campaigns.

On June 20, 2022, a cross-border coordination meeting between Ethiopia and Somalia was held in Dollo Ado, a border town between Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The goal of the meeting was to reinforce the multisectoral cross-border coordination and collaboration between key different stakeholders of the three countries in addressing the common public health threats.