June 25 launch of USAID Ethiopia urban health program
June 25, 2010, Addis Ababa: The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) and implementing partner John Snow Inc. (JSI) in support of the Ministry of Health ,are launching a three-year, $4.85 million Urban Health Extension Program expected to benefit approximately 2.6 million Ethiopians living in 19 cities and towns in the Amhara, Oromo, SNNPR and Tigray regions. The Ethiopian Government has designed this new program to improve access to health services in urban areas throughout the country by training and deploying one nurse for every 500 households. The program will provide services to household, neighborhood, school and youth centers.
The launch ceremony will take place at the Hilton Hotel at 8:30 AM on Friday, June 25. USAID Ethiopia’s Health Officer Ms. Meri Sinnitt and the General Director for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Kesetebrihan Admasu, will be the keynote speakers.
The Ethiopia Urban Health Extension Program (USAID/UHEP) is funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). UHEP aims to strengthen the ability of urban health extension workers to identify the most at-risk populations in their communities and provide public health services to improve their overall health situation, including through HIV prevention, care, and support services.
Urban Health Updates 
This is a very nobel idea since most of the people are not coming to health facilities. So by deploying UHEW we can acesses those people who are not utilizing health facilities, there by increasing the health coverage.Keep up, and we are with you.
Dr Adugna Tamiru
ICAP SR PO
Jijiga