Addis Ababa, June 12, 2024(Addis Walta) The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Ethiopia), launched a five-year, $8 million (450 million Birr) flagship project to control and prevent Tuberculosis (TB) and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB).
The project will be implemented in selected urban regions of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Shaggar City in the Oromia region, and Harari National Regional State.
Dr. Dereje Duguma, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Health, together with Karen Koprince, Acting USAID/Ethiopia Health Office Director, and Artist Alemayehu Tadesse, Goodwill Ambassador for the project, launched the project in the Mekedonia Shelter for the Elderly, who are said to be beneficiaries of this project.
According to the U.S Embassy, the project will provide comprehensive support to the people and Government of Ethiopia to achieve the United Nations High-Level declaration targets of ending TB by 2030 by detecting at least 95 percent of TB and DR-TB cases, successfully treating 95 percent of detected TB and DR-TB patients, preventing TB infection and progression to TB disease, and building a resilient urban TB system.
It will focus on three key areas: expanding TB and DR-TB case identification and treatment; prioritizing people-centered care; and exploring innovative methods to combat TB.
“2024 marks an important milestone in the relationship between the people of the United States and the people of Ethiopia. The two countries established formal diplomatic ties 120 years ago, and 60 years later, USAID was established in Ethiopia. We have been here since then, partnering together to make Ethiopia strong. We are committed to Ethiopia’s efforts to end TB,” said Karen Koprince, USAID/Ethiopia Acting Health Office Director.
The project will be implemented by a local organization REACH Ethiopia, with two other local organizations, Organic Health Services and Yeshama Birhan as part of USAID’s localization strategy. USAID aims to reach nearly six million people with comprehensive TB services. The project will focus on vulnerable populations including the elderly, those with diabetes, HIV, and those in facilities like prisons, shelters, underserved urban areas, and industrial parks.