Experts Start Mapping Health Posts, Centers across Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA – Experts in Geospatial technology and other fields are mapping health centers and posts in Ethippia to support Ministry of health’s new roadmap that aims to ensure equitable access and quality health services to in the country.
The start of the mapping was announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Lia Tadesse who held “fruitful discussions” with officials and experts of state-run Geo-spatial Information Institute on Wednesday.
Apart from health and tech ministries, experts from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Central Statistics Agency are involved in the mapping project.
The experts are “working on Geo-spatial mapping of health posts and health centers to implement a 15-year health extension program roadmap,” said Dr. Lia.
“So far, 11,103 health posts and 3,532 health centers have been mapped using various technologies,” Dr. Lia said.
In March this year, Ethiopia launched the $12 billion dollar health extension program roadmap which aims to ensure equitable access to essential health services, improve the quality of health services and strengthen community engagement and empowerment.
According to reports, there are at least 17,550 health posts and 39,878 health extension workers across the country whereby 1 health extension worker is responsible for 500 households on average.
Featured Image Caption: Kirkos Sub-City Health Center in Addis Ababa in a photo dated back to Nov 11. 2013. [Photo File/UNICEF]
