developed to organize and mobilize „„a critical mass‟‟ in health sector development, and consensus has also been reached over the development of an integrated plan and its implementation.42 The first, second and third phases of HSDP were completed in 2001,2005 and 2010(G.C.) respectively. Currently, the fourth phase of HSDP covering the period of 2010/11 2014/15(G.C.), is in its fourth year of implementation. It is focused on prevention and mitigation of health problems such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diarrheal diseases and common childhood and maternal illnesses. There has been a marked expansion of comprehensive HIV/AIDS services through decentralization and task shifting. Currently, there are 2,997, 1,901 and 8,67 health facilities providing HIV testing and counseling (HTC), Prevent of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) services respectively. In 2009/10 and 2010/11 the number of health posts were 14,192 and 15,095,and during 2011/12 the cumulative number increased to 15,668. A total of 1476 health posts were constructed during the first two years of the GTP period alone.43 In the course of these years, the program has been continually reviewed through joint exercises Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs), Final Evaluations and Annual Review Meetings (ARMs) and other joint exercises.44 Important steps have also been taken in the decentralization of the health care system. Decision making processes in the development and implementation of the health system are shared between the Federal Ministry of Health (MoH), the Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) and the Woreda Health Offices. As a result of recent policy measures taken by the Government, the MoH and the RHBs have concentrated more on policy matters and technical support, while the woreda health offices have been shifted to the pivotal role of managing and coordinating the operation of the primary health care services.45 In prior years, remarkable achievements have been realized in the expansion and construction of health facilities and improvement of the quality of health service provision. The Health Extension Program is an innovative health service delivery program that aims at universal coverage of primary health care. The program is based on expanding physical health infrastructure and developing Health Extension Workers who can provide basic preventive and curative health services in the rural GTP report 2011/12, p.68 Ethiopian UPR report 44Available at http://www.moh.gov.et/ 45http://www.moh.gov.et/English/ 42 43 80