The Global Health Initiative delegation met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, to discuss health systems strengthening.

Representatives of the Global Health Initiative (GHI) held a productive discussion with the Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, on key health issues and areas for collaboration. The discussion focused on advancing the Lusaka Agenda, improving accountability, and sharing Ethiopia's successful experiences with other Lusaka Agenda members.

During a discussion held at her office, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said that the Ministry of Health has been working with MedAction for a long time; noting that many children are waiting for heart surgery; she thanked MedAction for starting to provide free heart surgery services for children. Dr. Mekdes added that the Ministry of Health will provide all necessary support to MedAction.

Ethiopian standards Institute in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Accreditation service, development partners and other stakeholders is working to launch health care accreditation program in Ethiopia. This Health care accreditation is new in our country, before launching the program the draft document as per standardization principle should be released for public enquiry.

Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said at the forum that the meeting aimed to discuss strategies to reduce the cost of malaria drugs and strengthen efforts to prevent malaria.

Dr. Mekdes stressed the importance and priority of increasing community participation in preventing malaria; she told partners that strengthening primary healthcare facilities and enhancing prevention activities should be at the forefront of their efforts.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, who received the team of doctors who came to Ethiopia for the third round of free heart surgeries, thanked the team on behalf of the patient community for their good work. She added that the signing of the agreement will help increase the number of heart surgeries provided in our country.

Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba met with the Last Mile Health delegation at her office.

Last Mile Health is an organization that works with governments to build strong community health systems by facilitating blended training of skilled community health workers to provide primary health care to communities living far from urban areas; it works to ensure that health workers are accessible to all communities everywhere.

Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Gideon Timothios visited the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACCDP) in Addis Ababa.

The program was attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, and ministers, heads of the Ministry of Health and MoH institutions, heads of the Kolfe Clinic, residents and youth.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) provides assistance in various countries to help people affected by humanitarian crises, recover and rebuild their lives, and also works to restore health, safety, education, and economic security to people affected by conflict and disaster.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said that they would like to continue working with the IRC to increase access to vaccines in conflict-affected areas of our country; and requested the IRC to support in improving the overall health system.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics, in accordance with the authority granted by Article 22, Sub-Article 1 of the Third Party Insurance Proclamation No. 799/2005 and the provisions of Article 27, Sub-Article 3, has prepared a draft guideline for the implementation of emergency medical services for victims of vehicle accidents by the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service.