Fact Ethiopia

Modern medicine was introduced into Ethiopia in the sixteenth century. However, the so-called modern medicine remained a privilege only to the members of the Royal Courts until the establishment of the first Russian tent hospital in 1889 (1896). In 1902 E.C.
(1910) Menilik II inaugurated the foundation of the first Ethiopian hospital named after him. Eight [...]

[Read more →]

Goitre, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland resulting from insufficient intake of iodine prevails in many parts of Ethiopia. A number of surveys have indicated that the disease exists on a significant scale.
A more recent survey was conducted by the Ethiopian Nutrition Institute 1972 E.C. (1980) on 35,635 school children and 19,128 members [...]

[Read more →]

Schistosomiasis is spreading in Ethiopia because: (a) the snail intermediate hosts are widespread, (b) new man-made water-bodies are being created at an accelerated rate forming suitable habitats for snails, (c) extensive movement of population is taking place causing the introduction of the disease to new areas by migrants from endemic areas.
In some 350 communities examined [...]

[Read more →]

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of man caused by mycobacterium Leprae.
Leprosy is essentially a disease of peripheral nerves but it also affects the skin and sometimes certain other tissues notably the eye, the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, muscle, bone and testes.
It can be diagnosed, and usually can be cured with no damaging [...]

[Read more →]

Malaria is a major health problem in Ethiopia and is presently considered to be among the top major indirectly communicable diseases. Apart from being a health hazard, its impact on the socio-economic development of the country is considerable.
The settlement of the majority of the population on the highlands and plateaux can be considered a result [...]

[Read more →]

After the 1986 E.C. (1974) Revolution, a change in health policy was made. Thus the National Democratic Revolutionary Programme (NDRP) states, “to ensure full and meaningful life for the broad masses, all the necessary efforts will be undertaken to provide adequate health services”.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health formulated its policy in terms of an emphasis [...]

[Read more →]

The main health problems of the country, as in any developing country, are communicable diseases, (due to lack of basic sanitation), and malnutrition. Thus, the following health indicators show that the health status of the country is very low:-
- Infant mortality rate per 1000 live births 144
- Child (1-4 years) mortality per 1000 children 92
- Life expectancy at birth in [...]

[Read more →]