30 December 2009 – Ministry Public Relations Directorate Director, Ahmed Imano, said at a consultative forum organized to health experts on ways of implementing urban health extension program that efforts are being made to deploy over 5,000 health extension workers in urban areas. He said some 3, 749 health extension workers are being trained so as to attain the set target. He finally called on all health professionals and pertinent bodies to contribute share for the efficient realization of the program. Ministry Disease Prevention and Health Development Directorate Officer, Abate Benti, on his part called on the public to take active part in the program in order to repeat the results attained in rural areas in urban areas as well.
He said implementation manual and curriculum have been distributed for the efficient implementation of the program. Some 722 health extension workers have already been deployed in Addis Ababa, he said, adding 773 of the 1, 468 recruited nurses are also receiving training. He further said training of trainers (ToT) has been offered to 100 health professional drawn from Harari, Amhara, Tigray, SNNP and Oromia states as well as Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa administrations. Health professionals drawn from the Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa health bureau and pertinent bodies attended the half-day consultative forum organized jointly by Walta Information Center and Ministry of Health.
