Ethiopia’s average life expectancy has improved significantly and achieved the second biggest gain in average life span, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO’s report on the state of health around the world for 2014, Ethiopia recorded a rise in average life span from a low of 45 years in 1990 to 64 years in 2012.

Ethiopia has been at the forefront of significant health improvement over the past decade, making it one of the few low-income countries on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in health.

Recently, the United Nations has singled out Ethiopia as a leading performer in meeting the MDG on reducing child mortality rates. Ethiopia has also substantially reduced HIV and malaria prevalence.

The report says all these improvements have contributed to the rise in average life expectancy in the country.

The 67th session of the World Health Assembly which opened on Monday in Geneva is expected to adopt new global measures to consolidate the successes achieved so far and tackle emerging health problems.
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Source: ERTA, May 22, 2014.