Articles

Attending the launch of the initiative, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said that Ethiopia is playing a leading role in achieving the African Union's goal of meeting 60 percent of the continent's vaccine needs by 2040. 

She noted that the government has improved the drug procurement system to prioritize domestically produced products, increasing domestic demand coverage from 8 percent to 42 percent, and is working hard to increase it to 60 percent in the next five years.

The AU Summit, themed “Advancing Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda: Ensuring Sustainability through Commitment and Leadership,” is being held at the Africa CDC, which focuses on strengthening continental cooperation to ensure sustainable financing, strong leadership, and self-reliance of African health systems.

His Majesty King Letsi III of Lesotho, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, visited the Child Care and Nutrition Unit at Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, where he commended Ethiopia’s commitment to improving maternal and child health.
Speaking during the visit, His Majesty King Letsi stressed that “effective nutrition policies save lives” and noted that Ethiopia’s nutrition reform efforts have shown exemplary results. He also highlighted the critical role nutrition plays in preventing disease and reducing child mortality.