Expanding global health security through local partnerships in Ethiopia

The contract involves the continued collaboration between the CDC office in Ethiopia and Ethiopian government institutions, primarily the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, to enhance the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to priority health threats. Since its establishment in 2001, and especially following the initiation of the Global Health Security Agenda in 2014, efforts have focused on building Ethiopia’s ability to meet International Health Regulation targets through multi-sector partnerships. These efforts have resulted in significant achievements, including training over 500 field epidemiologists, activating a national public health emergency operations center, and expanding diagnostic and surveillance systems. The CDC aims to sustain and build upon this progress through projects spanning 2020 to 2025, addressing ongoing challenges posed by frequent outbreaks in the country. The strategic priorities outlined in this effort include strengthening laboratory capacity, workforce development, surveillance, emergency response and management, combating antimicrobial resistance, immunization efforts, and enhancing health information systems. The goal is to empower the Government of Ethiopia to manage public health emergencies more effectively, ensuring rapid detection and response capabilities. This initiative represents an integrated and comprehensive approach to global health security by leveraging local partnerships and multi-sector coordination to address Ethiopia’s complex public health needs.