‘Tena Yistelign’ is the Ethiopian greeting that wishes people good health to people we don’t know very well. This cheerful greeting underlines the importance of having a healthy life. As we mark another World Health Day today, it is a reminder that having a healthy lifestyle is critical to being productive and contributing to the development of one’s nation.
We need to couple our celebration of health with raising awareness of the health problems we still face around the world.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is highlighting the global problem of high blood pressure this year. According to WHO, many people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it does not always cause obvious symptoms. As a result, it causes more than nine million deaths every year.
About half are due to heart disease and strokes. Yet there are quite simple things that we can incorporate into our daily routines to avoid the risks of high blood pressure. Do read about high blood pressure to find out how.
In the last decade major improvements have been seen in health services in Ethiopia, including a halving of mortality rates for children under five. The UK is closely supporting Ethiopia to meet the Millennium Development Goal targets for health, including those relating to maternal and child mortality and malaria.
For example, the UK is contributing £440m over four years to train midwives, health extension workers and nurses; pay health workers’ salaries; procure essential drugs; equip health facilities with obstetric care equipment; and supply ambulances for referral of emergency cases.
The majority of our funds are being channelled through national Ethiopian systems, together with help from 11 other bilateral and multilateral donors. Over the past 5 years, UK aid has saved the life of one child every hour through our support to the health sector.
I am proud that we are part of Ethiopia’s tremendous progress in the health sector.
Tena yistilign!
Dear Greg Dorey, Keep on with the good work.
Tena Yistilign! Dear Ambassador!
I was so impressed by the message you placed on your blog on the occasion of the World Health Day. As you have mentioned it properly our party and government are working hard to meet the MDG goals. We have been working to improve the health status of our people by crafting and implementing an integrated health extension program. The women health extension workers who are assigned in every village are the ones who have to be hailed for their determination and achievement apart from the correct policy guidelines of the government. I would like to thank you and your government for the assistance you are funneling towards our health improvement projects. Cheers to Health!