At an annual activity assessment meeting conducted on 12 February in Mendefera, the Ministry of Health branch in the Southern region stated that encouraging diseases control measures have been undertaken alongside efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a report presented, Dr. Amanuel Mihreteab, Medical Director of the branch stated that thanks to the concerted measures conducted, the prevalence of malaria in the region declined by 63% and malaria fatality rate decreased to zero, while 90% of the 288 people infected with TB were cured.
Indicating that encouraging children’s vaccination programs has been conducted across the region, Dr. Amanuel said that in the last five years vaccination coverage has increased by 93%, prenatal visits by 64%, and in 2021 alone over 10 thousand pregnant women have delivered in health facilities.
Dr. Amanuel further noted that as a result of the increased awareness-raising activities conducted in the region, the prevalence of water-borne diseases has significantly decreased.
Mr. Habteab Tesfatsion, Governor of the Southern Region on his part, commending the activities the Ministry of Health branch exerted to ensure the health of the public, expressed the readiness of the regional administration to alleviate challenges that the health institutions are encountering.
The Minister of Health, Ms. Amina Nurhussein, on her part called for reinforced community-based environmental sanitation activities aimed at preventing the prevalence of communicable diseases.
The report indicates that in the Southern region there are one referral hospital, four hospitals, three community hospitals, nine health centers, forty-one health stations, as well as two maternity clinics.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea