Hawassa. 7 April - More than half the world’s population is at risk of diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors. Every year, more than one billion people are infected and more than one million die from these diseases.

This World Health Day (WHD), 7 April 2014, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) draw attention to controlling vector-borne diseases, which are entirely preventable, and call the regional/state governments, communities and families to take action to effectively respond to the threat of these diseases.

Hawassa, the regional capital of Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), hosted the World Health Day event of 2014. The region is particularly prone to vector-borne diseases, including yellow fever, malaria, lymphatic filariasis (also known as elephantiasis) and leishmaniasis, affecting a large part of the region's population. The Federal Ministry of Health, SNNPR Regional Health Bureau and WHO organized a media orientation to engage journalists for health promotion and a sensitization workshop for national health experts, in the context of a national awareness campaign.

The World Health Day ceremony was celebrated under the patronage of Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, in the presence of Dr Pierre M'Pele-Kilebou, WHO Country Representative, Ato Habtamu Beyene, Deputy Head of SNNPR Regional Health Bureau, regional cabinet members, representatives of NGOs, civil society organizations, religious leaders and the media. 

"Implementation of a coordinated vector control programme is crucial to preventing vector-borne diseases," said Dr Kebede Worku. "Health extension workers and the Health Development Army will be key to educating the society and ensuring the ownership of the people," he emphasized.

Vector-borne diseases affect the poorest populations, particularly where there is a lack of access to adequate housing, safe drinking water and sanitation. Malnourished people and those with weakened immunity are especially susceptible. On World Health Day 2014, WHO is calling for a renewed focus on vector control and better provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene – key strategies outlined in WHO’s 2011 Roadmap for the control, elimination and eradication of neglected tropical diseases, which sets targets for the period 2012–2020.

“Today, it is encouraging to note the progress made in the African Region to tackle vector-borne diseases. For example, between 2001 and 2012 an estimated 337 million cases of malaria were averted. A good percentage of this figure is due to the progress made in Ethiopia,” said Dr Pierre M'Pele-Kilebou at the WHD event in Hawassa.

World Health Day, 7 April every year, also marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948 as a global health authority.