Our work in Ethiopia
Despite some progress in recent years, the health care system in Ethiopia remains inadequate to meet the needs of its people. Government health expenditure was just US$1.50 per capita in 2000, compared to the US$30-40 per capita that the World Health Organisation estimates is necessary to provide essential health services. In Ethiopia, on average only 49% of the population have any access to modern health services, and in some rural areas the coverage falls to 25%. The doctor to patient ratio in Ethiopia is 1:36,000. Government health expenditure has increased in recent years, but utilization rates for public services have not. Ethiopians visit a government health facility only once every four years, while they are sick nearly eight times per year (on average). This is due to a lack of health infrastructure, the poor quality of services where they exist, and the inability of many people to pay for treatment. 
The impact on children is clear: one out of every six Ethiopian children dies before their fifth birthday. 14% of children born to mothers under 20 years of age die during childbirth. Diarrhea accounts for nearly half of the deaths. Only 60% of infants below one year are immunized against four major illnesses. Chronic malnutrition, both a cause and effect of poor health, is very high. 52% of Ethiopian children are stunted due to malnutrition.