Ethiopia, Australia sign grant agreement to strengthen health program

Ethiopia and Australia signed here on Thursday a new bilateral grant agreement amounting to 45 million USD to strengthen the national health program to be implemented during the coming four years in Ethiopia.

Health Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd signed the agreement.

Dr. Tedros on the occasion said the fund will significantly contribute in the ongoing efforts to improve Ethiopia's health service program in particular in the efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rate.

The Minister on the occasion lauded Australia's support to the health programs.

Rudd on his part said Australia will help to increase the number of trained midwives to 8635 from 2002 and increase the number of deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants to 62 per cent from 18 per cent.

Through Australia's investment maternal mortality is expected to drop to 267 from 590 deaths per 100,000 live births and infant deaths to reduce to 31 from 59 per 1000 live births, he said.

ENA