*
While welcoming World Bank Country Director Myriam Salim and the delegation, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said that Ethiopia has not been severed from the World Bank's support even during the COVID pandemic and conflict; she stated that the cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the World Bank has enabled the health sector agenda to move forward rapidly.
Explaining the readiness of the Minister to quickly implement the major projects being implemented in the health sector, including those being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank, Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba asked the World Bank to continue to strengthen its support to Ethiopia in this regard.
State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Duguma, for his part, discussed ways to work together to prevent and control non-communicable diseases; and reached an understanding to work closely with the World Bank to control the malaria epidemic.
The World Bank Country Director, Myriam Salim, who led the World Bank delegation, praised the Ministry of Health’s achievements, especially in improving maternal and child health; said that Ethiopia is a model for other East African countries in the health sector. They also discussed health insurance, vaccination, Tsidu project, pharmaceutical supply and increasing domestic pharmaceutical production.
The World Bank delegation visited various health institutions, the St. Paul’s Hospital expansion project, and the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority laboratory under construction with the support of the World Bank, and noted that the construction is progressing at a rapid pace.