Addis ababa: Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba announced that over 63 million citizens benefited from the Community Health Insurance service during the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, reflecting major progress in expanding access to healthcare. Speaking at a performance review forum in Addis Ababa, the minister highlighted key health sector achievements.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the forum, focused on the Community Health Insurance Service, the Seqota Pledge, and the National Food and Nutrition Strategy, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and other senior government officials. The minister emphasized the importance of improving nutrition as vital to building a healthy and productive generation. She noted that the 10-year Food and Nutrition Strategy and the expanded Seqota Pledge have made significant progress over the past four years.
In 2017, the Seqota Pledge was extended to 334 districts, benefiting millions of pregnant and lactating women and children. The minister announced plan
s to expand it further to 520 districts in the 2018 fiscal year, with the goal of eliminating malnutrition by 2022 Ethiopian Calendar. Mekdes also pointed to national initiatives such as Green Legacy as key drivers in strengthening the country’s nutrition system and achieving broader health objectives.
She reported that nationwide health service coverage has surpassed 95%, supported by ongoing efforts to build a resilient health infrastructure. To assist citizens unable to afford care, the Health Insurance Strategy is being implemented nationwide. The Community Health Insurance Service now operates in 1,195 districts, covering 63 million people, an achievement Mekdes attributed to the successful rollout of an income-based payment system across all regions.