Ethiopia’s investment on health prevention services and information sharing using various tools is commendable, World Health Organization (WHO), Deputy Representative to Ethiopia said.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, the Deputy Representative Dr. Nonhlanhla Rose-Mary Dlamini said health prevention service is part of our Risk Communication Community Engagement (RCCE) and it has to be in languages that the ordinary person can understand.
“It is actually a very good investment to start with the prevention side. Ethiopia put in place that the preventive services and information sharing is strong. I even get SMS messages even though I cannot read the local language. The fact that reaching someone like me shows the penetration is actually very good.”
Regarding the commitment of WHO and other partners to support Ethiopian health system, the deputy representative said we develop tools for countries to adopt them based on researches fitting with the respective countries’ health system.
It is part of our plan that health preventive services should be in languages that the ordinary person can understand then you can get the message across in all platforms.
As WHO, we have access to all the researches all-over the world. We will take the researches and test and identify which one is fit for a respective country and adopt them as system.
Stressing that research and innovation is always very important in all the programs, she said as things are so dynamic and change all the time, researchers are key to show such dynamics.
For Dr. Dlamini, identifying the social structure of the society and those who are vulnerable is key to implement all the health strategies.
There is strong partnerships among key development partners in Ethiopia’s health sector, including COVID-19 response efforts.
Ethiopia’s government has been praised for the aggressive and effective tactics it has used to stem the outbreak of COVID-19.
Ethiopia is also currently digitizing the community health information system, called the electronic community health information system, or eCHIS.
This system is expected to bring tools and networks into place to digitize data, and automate workflows, enabling HEW performance management and supervision.
Recall that last March, 2023, Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse was recognized for her contribution as a female leader in the field of health development
The recognition is given to African women leaders who focus on tackling and solving challenges in health development, quality and fair access to health services, and universal health service coverage, as well as role models for future generations.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency