Eritrea is a nation of about 3.6 million people bordering northern Ethiopia and the Red Sea. It has had a decades long history of conflict and subordination, most recently under Ethiopia, which ended with free elections in 1993. These challenges left the country with no effective social or physical infrastructure outside of its scattered urban centers.
A major priority of the new Eritrean government is the organization and delivery of public health services essential to combat many problems of infectious and communicable disease affecting its people. Joined by USAID, Eritrea contracted with PHI to establish a public health training program. Mr. Dennis Kalson, a public health professional with important USAID credentials was recruited as a volunteer to take on the task of setting up Eritrea’s public health training. Mr. Kalson has extensive experience organizing grass-roots public health services in Ecuador and other South American countries.
Working with indigenous leadership to assure sustainability, the Eritrean program is now graduating public health professionals. They are assisting local governments throughout Eritrea to establish sustainable public health resources. The success of the Eritrean public health program is drawing attention around the world and is a credit to the energy, intelligence, and commitment of the Eritrean people.