Ethiopia's current government has made a strong commitment to improving the healthcare situation for its people. However, Ethiopia's healthcare system is among the least developed in sub-Saharan Africa. [1]

In Ethiopia today, the infant mortality rate is high at 77 per 1,000, with maternal death rates also high at 720 per 100,000. Only 6 percent of childbirths take place with the assistance of any healthcare physician. Lack of access to pre- and post-natal as well as emergency care contributes to high rates of anemia during pregnancy, underweight births, and complications such as fistula. [2,3]

Established in 2008, Ethiopia Healthcare Network (EHN) is committed to improving the well-being of the Ethiopian people by addressing the needs of low income women and children. Our strategy involves identifying excellent small clinics in Ethiopia that need additional funding to expand their services to poor women and children.

EHN will enable clinics to hire additional physicians and medical staff, purchase basic equipment, and hire community health workers who can convince women to use pre-natal healthcare services.

Our first joint venture will be with a clinic in Addis Ababa. With a grant, we will enable the clinic to hire a pediatrician. This physician's work will be aimed at a poor constituency not currently served by the clinic.

As EHN's efforts demonstrate effective healthcare delivery, we will increase support in proven segments and expand our program to include initiatives such as community outreach staff, rotation and training of U.S. and Ethiopian medical students, and partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). EHN's long-term strategy envisions broad replication of clinical support and facilities development in underserved regions of Ethiopia.

If you would like to get involved in this exciting new project, please email us at info@ethiopiahealth.org. If you are able to make a contribution, the poor of Ethiopia will be most grateful. You can make contributions using the link below. Ethiopia Healthcare Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Washington, D.C. Donations to EHN are deductible from U.S. taxes.

Volunteers/Interns

• Multimedia development.
• Event coordinator (Washington, DC, area).
• Public health specialists.
• Development/NGO specialists.

For Information  Please contact Rev. Dr. John Wimberly at (202) 835-8383 or email john@ethiopiahealth.org.

Thank you.

1. http://cnhde.ei.columbia.edu/healthsystem/
2. UNICEF. Ethiopia statistics 2008. Available at: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ethiopia_statistics.html
3. World Health Organization. Country health system fact sheet 2006 Ethiopia. Available at: http://afro.who.int/home/countries/fact_sheets/ethiopia.pdf