Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is a prominent and strategically located nation that has become a major player in African affairs. With the second largest population on the continent, Ethiopia boasts unparalleled ethnic and linguistic diversity.
Ethiopia has made significant strides in its social and economic development since the world’s attention focused on its terrible plight during the 1984-85 famine. Despite strong commitment to its national poverty reduction plan the country still contends with shockingly low water and sanitation coverage rates. Only 22% of the population has access to clean water, and a mere 13% have access to basic sanitation facilities. WaterCan has been working to bring clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene promotion to Ethiopian communities since 1988.
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| Countries: | Ethiopia | Canada |
| Population (million): | 79 | 32 |
| Child Mortality (under 5 years) per 1,000 live births: |
164 | 6 |
| Average life expectancy (years): | 52 | 80 |
| Water supply coverage: | 22% | 100% |
| Sanitation coverage: | 13% | 100% |
| Physicians (per 100,000 people): | 3 | 214 |
| GDP per capita (US$): | 157 | 34,484 |
| UN Human Development Index Rank (out of 177 countries): |
169th | 4th |
Meet Elizabeth Mekonnen, WaterCan’s Ethiopian Country Advisor
By George Yap, Program Director
If one were to visit a typical "health post" in rural Africa, water and sanitation-related diseases like diarrhea and intestinal worms would likely be among the top three reported illnesses. If this facility had a ward, at least half of the beds would be occupied by patients suffering from water-related diseases.
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