Ethiopia - A Country Study

Joseph B

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa where most of its people live in poverty.  The population growth rate is estimated at 3.202%.  The GDP is $900 per capita and its GNI per capita is US $630.     

The economy of Ethiopia relies on its agriculture, which makes up 45% of GDP and 85% of total employment.  Coffee is a major agricultural product of Ethiopia. Water scarcity and poor cultivation practices have been detrimental to its agriculture and progress. 

The life expectancy of Ethiopian men is 55 years old and for women, 58 years old.  Infant mortality rate is 78.99 deaths/1,000 live births.  Total fertility rate is 6.07 children born per woman.   

The Ethiopian people are at high risk for major infectious diseases, such as for example, food or waterborne diseases including bacterial and protozoan diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever.  Other deadly diseases are malaria and meningococcal meningitis. 

The adult prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS is 2.1% with about 980,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.  In addition, deaths related to HIV/AIDS are 67,000 annually.

The country of Ethiopia likewise suffers in the fields of education, governmental structure, healthcare, maternal and child health, and nutrition.  More time and efforts, including international support, are needed in order for Ethiopia to become a stronger country.     

TB-HIV facts of India

One out of 20 TB patients in India is infected by HIV. Around 65% of the registered TB patients of India know their HIV status (gross variation across the states). More than 60% people living with HIV & AIDS die of TB in India. 2.3 – 3.1 million people of India are infected by HIV and around 400,000 – 500,000 are currently on ART (may be less). ART itself has TB prevention property, so we expect people on ART are relatively at safer side provided they adhere to their treatment. 

But the TB risk is higher  among

1) Those who are not on ART (around 2 million),

2) Those already infected by HIV but don’t know their HIV status,

3) Those who are at higher risk of HIV transmission,  and

4) Around 30 – 40% registered TB cases who don’t know their HIV status.

All these groups should be targeted under TB/HIV collaborative program within a close partnership of NACP & RNTCP at state and district level, which still needs lot of attention and support.