Ethiopia's Crusade against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is one of Ethiopia's major infectious diseases. It was found that of 114,580 people examined in 1963, 9,390 (or approximately 8%) of them were found to be victims of tuberculosis. As early as 1953, the Government, with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), conducted a countrywide campaign to vaccinate people with BCG. Subsequently, the TB Demonstration and Training Centre was built by the Government in Addis Ababa, with equipment and medical supplies from WHO and UNICEF, to provide diagnostic services and treat ambulatory patients. The Centre also collects information on the incidence of tuberculosis throughout the country. In February 1963, the Centre extended its coverage to include the supervision of the newly-opened St. Peter's Tuberculosis Hospital. An important feature of the programme calls for training doctors, public health officers, community nurses, social workers and other medical personnel in techniques of tuberculosis prevention and treatment.
Ato (Mr.) Seifu Zelleke, Director General of the Ministry of Public Health, presides over a board meeting of Ethiopian officials, WHO and UNICEF specialists. (To the left of Ato Seifu) Dr. Pierro Chasles, WHO adviser to the Ethiopian Ministry of Public Health. [c. October 1964]