BY TEWODROS KASSA
Currently, providing quality and accessible health services to all citizens is one of the top priorities of governments. In doing so, the health sector consumes one of the largest budgets of countries. Ethiopia has made promising moves in the efforts of addressing the health sector’s challenges.
Accordingly, the recent war in Tigray state obstructed the efforts of fulfilling citizen’s rights to access health services at their doorsteps. The three years long war caused the destruction of numerous hospitals and health centers found in all corners of the state.
Moreover, the war caused a psycho-social stress among the Tigray residents following the destruction of health centers that provide 24/7 services to the public. The lack of health service in the state leads to a social trauma when failed to deliver effective health services for pregnant mothers and infants.
Recently, a delegation led by Health Minister, Lia Tadese (MD) has visited health centers in Mekele town. The delegation included pertinent stakeholders and senior officials. During their visit the delegation has discussed thoroughly with the state provisional administration on the ways forward and put possible solutions to the ongoing health sector problems in the state.
The Ayder Comprehensive Hospital is one of the health centers visited by the senior government officials. During her visit, the health minister commended the effective health services being provided by the hospital’s professionals despite several challenges being exerted in the sector due to the conflict.
The ministry will undertake maximum efforts to fulfill the health service inputs challenges in collaboration with the state health bureau and other stakeholders. The minister also discussed how to resume and quickly finalizes the hospital’s cancer treatment center construction and machinery installation to provide full service in the short run.
Similarly, Mekele General Hospital, Ethiopian Medicines Supply Service Mekele branch, Ethiopian Food and Medicines Supply Authority Mekele branch, and other internally displaced people’s centers were visited by the delegation members. After the visit, the delegation attended the state health bureau head Dr, Amanuel Haile report about the health services situation in the state.
The state health bureau head elaborated that the state administrators and health professionals are actively working with the community to rehabilitate the destroyed health centers and restart health services. Addressing the medicines and health service inputs problems, and maintaining the health system requires the due attention of every stakeholder, he said.
The delegation team has also discussed with State Social Development Transition Secretariat head Prof. Kindeye Gebrhiwet, regarding the health sector problems. He explained that the federal government’s efforts of rehabilitating various services in the state are commendable. As to him, restoring the health sector services should be given due attention as it is a matter of rescuing life.
In her comment regarding the restoration of health services, Health Minister Dr. Lia on her part said that the reconstruction of the health sector is among the leading roles of the federal government in the state. In this regard, the ministry of health will closely work with the state’s provisional administration, pertinent stakeholders, state institutions, other states and the general public to swiftly restore the health sector provision throughout the state.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 18 APRIL 2023
