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Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba held a meeting with a delegation from USAID Washington, CDC Atlanta, and Ethiopia PEPFAR to discuss the sustainability of HIV prevention and control efforts in Ethiopia.
Noting that HIV prevention and control efforts have been able to continue without interruption even during the COVID pandemic, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba outlined the efforts made to provide better prevention and treatment services by increasing community participation and listening to the voices of patients. She also discussed the role of partners in improving the overall health system. In the meeting, she called for continued support from partners to sustain HIV prevention efforts.
Ato Fikadu Yadeta, the lead executive officer of HIV Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the need for sustained support from development partners to sustain the gains made in HIV prevention. He said that although prevention efforts have continued unabated, there are significant differences in the rate of transmission of the virus from region to region, community to community, and urban to rural areas, and that this should be emphasized.