World Vision Ethiopia Investing in Preventing and Controlling Malaria in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, April 24, 2013 (WV) - World Vision’s core competencies in the health sector are centered on child-focused, community-based prevention and treatment of communicable diseases. Its interventions are focused on sustainable health promotion and prevention, social behavior change communications, community ownership and participation and health systems strengthening.

Over the last decade, Ethiopia has made significant progress in the fight against malaria. However, malaria remains a significant public health problem threatening more than half the Ethiopian population. To this end, WV invested over $15 million last year alone to support the health sector in Ethiopia.

At present, World Vision Ethiopia works in more than 38 woredas out of the 82 where malaria is endemic, and supporting rapid scale-up for universal coverage of long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) through its existing community networks using a community-based distribution model. To achieve these targets, Volunteers are trained to distribute the nets through community meetings and demonstrate household-to-household net hang-up as well as provide information, education and communication (IEC) to ensure proper use of nets. In addition to training community volunteers, World Vision provides technical support for training local Ministry of Health (MoH) staff.

World Vision Ethiopia also partners with a number of local and international organizations such as CCRDA, the global fund and local and national MoH and existing government structures to enhance its work on malaria prevention and control.

Going forward, World Vision Ethiopia is committed to play a vital role to defeat malaria by raising the needed funds and investing to reduce malaria deaths in Ethiopia.  “Reducing malaria deaths is a significant way in which we can achieve the targets of improving child wellbeing throughout the country,” said Margaret Schuler, National Director of World Vision of Ethiopia.   

For more information please contact: Meron Aberra, at meron_aberra@wvi.org, 0911-221060

End Note:World Vision began its first intervention in Ethiopia in 1971 with relief and opened the Ethiopia office in 1975. During the 1984/85 drought, World Vision Ethiopia participated in a massive relief operation that saved the lives of millions of people. After an intensive relief and rehabilitation programme, the organization developed a new integrated development approach the objective of which was to ensure empowerment and transformational change.  This approach led to the establishment of Area Development Programs (ADPs) in the 1990s that is still being implemented and continuously strengthened today.

At present World Vision Ethiopia operates in 69 ADPs, coordinated by eight programme offices in eight regional states and one city administration. Moreover, World Vision carries out emergency response interventions in South Omo and Borena. It also supports Somali refugees in Dollo Ado and Sudanese refugees in Tongo in the western part of the country.