Dr. Mekdes Daba is a seasoned medical professional and public health expert who was appointed as the Minister of Health of Ethiopia in June 2024. She leads the federal ministry responsible for overseeing the nation's health policy, programs, and system.
Professional Background and Expertise:
-
Medical Doctor: Dr. Mekdes is a trained physician with a deep understanding of clinical medicine and patient care.
-
Public Health Specialist: She holds a Master's degree in Public Health (MPH), which equips her with the skills for large-scale health program management, epidemiology, and health policy analysis.
-
Maternal and Child Health Focus: A significant portion of her career has been dedicated to improving maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes in Ethiopia. She has been a prominent figure in initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality.
-
Health Systems Strengthening: She has extensive experience working on health system strengthening, particularly in the areas of primary healthcare, health extension programs, and improving the quality of health services.
Key Roles and Career Trajectory:
Prior to her appointment as Minister, Dr. Mekdes held several high-level positions where she demonstrated her leadership and expertise:
-
Senior Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Advisor: She served in this role at the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health for many years. In this capacity, she was instrumental in developing and implementing national strategies and programs to improve the health of mothers and children.
-
Program Leadership at JSI R&T: Before her ministerial appointment, she was the Country Lead for the "MOMENTUM Country Global Leadership" project in Ethiopia, implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI). This role focused on providing technical and advisory support to the Ethiopian government to accelerate reductions in maternal and child mortality.
-
Advocate for Women's and Children's Health: Throughout her career, Dr. Mekdes has been a vocal advocate for evidence-based interventions, such as immunization, antenatal care, and skilled birth attendance.
Vision and Priorities as Minister:
While her official ministerial agenda is still being fully articulated, based on her background and initial statements, her priorities are expected to include:
-
Continuation of Health Sector Reforms: Advancing the ongoing health sector transformation agenda aimed at improving equity, quality, and accessibility of healthcare.
-
Strengthening Primary Healthcare: Reinforcing Ethiopia's flagship Health Extension Program, which forms the backbone of the country's primary healthcare system.
-
Focus on Maternal and Child Health: Leveraging her expertise to further drive down maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality rates.
-
Health System Resilience: Building a more resilient health system capable of handling shocks like pandemics and climate-related health crises.
-
Addressing Malnutrition and Disease Burden: Tackling persistent challenges such as malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Reputation:
Dr. Mekdes is widely respected within the Ethiopian health sector and by international partners for her technical competence, dedication, and collaborative approach. She is seen as a leader who is deeply committed to achieving tangible health outcomes for the Ethiopian people.