The 2011 annual Every One Campaign Race was co-sponsored by USAID, in order to celebrate and commemorate USAID’s 50th anniversary and its efforts to improve health in Ethiopia. The race aimed at making people aware of the maternal and infant mortality rates in Ethiopia. Though Ethiopia has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the world, USAID has been doing its utmost to improve the scenario. It is trying to improve the health system, train skilled workers, and extend important health services, like vaccinations and pre-natal care, to wider areas. It is due to the concentrated efforts of USAID that the infant mortality rate in the country has become half, the past twenty years.
World long distance record holder Haile GebreSelassie and 2010 New York marathon winner GebreEgzabhir GebreMariam were among the participants in the race. Many activities were held to celebrate the occasion. These included a pre-race concert, entertainment, and also a skit, showing the important role played by of health care centers in improving the health of mother and children.
