Title: Achievements of the Ethiopian Health Service Extension Programme
Course: Health Management, Ethics and Research - Ethiopia (Full)

Achievements of the Ethiopian Health Service Extension Programme

The HSEP has had government support and commitment at all levels, from Federal to kebele administration, from the start. Because of this it has delivered significant improvements in the health status of the people (Box 1.5).

Box 1.5 Achievements and health outcomes of HSEP until the year 2010

1. 34,382 female Health Extension Workers have been trained and deployed to date
2. 14,192 Health Posts have been constructed so far
3. 35.2 million insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) have been distributed to families in rural areas
4. Under five years old mortality has decreased from 160 per 1,000 live births in 2000, to 109 per 1,000 live births in 2010
5. Infant mortality in the first year of life has decreased from 77 deaths per 1000 live births in 2005 to 67 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009
6. The Maternal Mortality Ratio has decreased from 673 to 470 per 100,000 live births
7. There has been a decrease in malaria epidemics and a decrease in malaria-related deaths
8. Antenatal coverage has increased from 30% in 2002 to 71% in 2010
9. Increased childhood immunization rates. DPT3* (a measure of health service utilisation as well as childhood immunization) coverage increased from 38% in 2000 to 86% in 2010
10. A total of 9,979,706 Model Households have been trained and graduated by 2010
11. Latrine coverage increased from 60% in 2009 to 74% in 2010
12. Contraceptive usage rate increased from 56% in 2009 to 62% in 2010
13. HIV/AIDS-related deaths have been decreasing.

(Source: Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health Report, 2010)

*DPT3 refers to completing the three scheduled immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus; in Ethiopia these are given combined (in a single pentavalent immunization) with vaccines against hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B.

Look again at Box 1.5. Which of the achievements listed in the box is a health outcome?

Show answer

Numbers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 13 are all positive health outcomes. These statistics show that the health of people in Ethiopia has been improving since the introduction of the HSEP. All the other statistics show the work that has been done within the HSEP to establish new services and put in place effective preventive measures.

Many elements of the HSEP have been a success and the health of the population has been steadily improving because of the establishment of so many Health Posts and the work of thousands of Health Extension Workers. There have been some particular successes within the programme including:

- Model families
- Community packages
- Interventions at Health Post level.