Through a government program that provides universal, bare-bones, health care, perhaps?
Ethiopia’s network of 30,000 health extension workers provides basic health care across the country.
By treating diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and other common ailments, these health extension workers have been the driving force in reducing Ethiopia’s child mortality rate. They also assist with births and provide routine immunizations to children.
Twenty years ago 1 in 5 kids born in Ethiopia would die before their 5th birthday. Now that rate has been cut in a third to only 1 in 15. The credit for that dramatic drop goes largely to women like health worker Foos Muhamed Gudaal (top) and the government officials who had the vision and conviction to set up such a program.
Photograph:
Top: Health worker Foos Muhamed Gudaal at a rural health post in the eastern Somali Region of Ethiopia (Jason Beaubien/NPR)
Ethiopians today celebrate Meskel or “The Finding of the True Cross”.
The story goes that in the Queen Helena of the 4th century had a dream about where the actual cross that Jesus was crucified on was buried. In the dream, she was told to make a bonfire, and the smoke would lead her to the cross.
To celebrate Meskel, last night Ethiopians made bonfires. Today they smudge the ash on their foreheads to celebrate.
Lately I was enchanted by #tribal #beauty of an #indigenous #African tribe of #Mursi #Ethiopia. Meet Meg, she’s a Mursi Ethiopian #Girl I’m working on at the moment. I forgot to include 2 tusk earrings, will include them later. Enjoy this rough #pinup I might be turning this into a Tshirt once I’m done. Keep a lookout on this space :)
With over 93,000,000 inhabitants, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world. Tracing its roots to the 2nd millennium BC, Ethiopia was a monarchy for most of its history. Ethiopia derived prestige for its uniquely successful military resistance during the late 19th-century Scramble for Africa.
The colours green, yellow, and red have carried special importance since at least the early 17th century. Before the tricolour scheme has existed, Ethiopia flew three coloured pennants. Unlike today, the red was then at the top.
A year after Ethiopia decisively defended itself from Italian colonization at the Battle of Adwa, the pennants were replaced by the rectangular flag we still know today and that inspired the flags of many African countries.
