Burkina Faso Delegation on Experience Sharing Visit in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa May 28/2018 A delegation of Burkina Faso that consist health experts is in Addis Ababa to learn from Ethiopia’s best practices in health extension program and primary health services. The delegation started its five-day experience sharing visit today in a discussion with officials from the Ministry of Health. During the occasion Minister of Health Dr Amir Aman has briefed the delegation about the flagship health extension program and community-based health services. Dr Amir said “Over the last 27 years we are following preventive and curative health policy focusing more on community public health services.” Ethiopia has been implementing the health extension program for last 12 years which he said has helped to improve awareness of community members on health issues. He said “if you … can implant in the communities the right attitude, knowledge and skills, they can maintain their own health condition and that is the main philosophy of our health extension program.” He expressed hope that the delegates will receive firsthand experience from the communities themselves during their field visit. Ethiopia launched the health extension program in 2004 to develop a community-based accelerated expansion of health facilities. The health extension workers provide key health services through fixed and outreach bases. They spend half of their working time conducting home visits and outreach activities and the remaining half at their health post providing basic curative and preventive services. This flagship program is believed to be a key contributor to the country’s achievement in the health sector. The delegates expressed their interest to learn from Ethiopia’s best practices in health sector in primary health care in particular which will be helpful for their country. Permanent Secretary of Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, Francine Ouedraogo said “We are here in Ethiopia in order to learn from your best practices on health community system and build solid partnership with the ministry of health of Ethiopia.” Burkina Faso has chosen to benchmark Ethiopia as the later is in a better position in health extension program, she said. The Permanent Secretary hopes that the delegation will learn a lot from these best practices in order to improve her country’s health system. “It is very useful for us. We really congratulate the government of Ethiopia for efforts it has made to improve the health of the population as a good example for Africa and with good standing globally” he said. During its five-day stay in Ethiopia the delegation is expected to visit communities and see the achievements gained in the health sector.