Addis Ababa, May 2, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba and USAID Deputy Mission Director Eleanor TanPiengco inaugurated the USAID Lowlands Health Activity, a five-year, $35 million initiative aimed at improving health and nutrition outcomes for mothers and children in the pastoral regions of Ethiopia, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa disclosed today.
This project, to be implemented by EngenderHealth Inc., along with a consortium of international and local partners, will span 35 districts across the Somali, Afar, Southern Ethiopia, and Oromia regions, according to the Embassy.
It is indicated that USAID has been supporting maternal and child health in pastoralist regions since 2017 through the Transform Health in Developing Regions project. The new Lowlands Health Activity will provide services to marginalized populations, focusing on primary healthcare, access to quality services, healthy behavior adoption, and essential reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, and nutrition services. The project directly supports the achievements of USAID’s and Ethiopia’s Health Sector Transformation goal, aimed to prevent maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
At the launch event, Deputy Mission Director Eleanor TanPiengco stated, “The Lowlands Health Activity will enhance access to skilled birth care and comprehensive pre- and post-natal services for mothers, as well as improved healthcare and nutritional services for their children. Additionally, it will aid in the restoration of conflict-affected health facilities in Afar.”
The Embassy noted that this new project symbolizes the ongoing partnership between the American and Ethiopian people.
2024 marks an important milestone in the relationship between the people of the United States and the people of Ethiopia. It was 120 years ago that the two countries established formal diplomatic ties and 60 years later that USAID was established in Ethiopia, as per the Embassy.