Ethiopia's healthcare system faces critical challenges amidst overlapping crises. The country is battling concurrent outbreaks of cholera (58,381 cases, 726 deaths), malaria (774,000+ cases), and measles (912 cases), straining an already overwhelmed system. While Ethiopia has made significant progress toward UNAIDS 95-95-95 HIV targets, recent funding cuts pose severe threats, including the suspension of US foreign assistance which has affected critical health programs and led to 5,000 healthcare workers being laid off. In conflict-affected regions like Tigray, 853 healthcare facilities have been damaged (28 completely destroyed), drastically reducing medical care access. The situation in eastern Amhara has improved slightly with negotiated humanitarian access, but access challenges persist across much of the country.
The response requires immediate, multi-faceted action. Funding gaps must be urgently addressed. The health sector received only 30% of needed funds in 2024, with the current health cluster reporting a concerning 69.8% funding gap ($130.8M shortfall of $187.34M needed). Mobile health teams have been crucial, with 234 teams currently delivering essential services to displaced populations and remote communities, reaching 282,000 individuals across affected areas. Priority interventions should include scaling up cholera vaccination campaigns that previously reached 15 million people, expanding WASH infrastructure, strengthening disease surveillance, addressing maternal and child health, and rebuilding damaged healthcare facilities.
Our latest GANNET Insights provides a broad infographic of the current situation.
