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Health

This page provides information on Tigray's healthcare system, including infrastructure, services, and the impact of the war as of July 2026.

Quick Facts (July 2026)

  • Health Facilities Damaged: 86% during war, 45% still non-functional (2026)
  • Functional Hospitals: 12 of 18 pre-war hospitals operational
  • Health Centers: 65% of pre-war health centers partially operational
  • People Requiring Aid: 2.1 million still requiring humanitarian assistance (2025)
  • Maternal Mortality: 620 per 100,000 live births (up from 401 pre-war)
  • Child Mortality: 78 per 1,000 live births (up from 55 pre-war)
  • Medical Staff Shortage: 40% of pre-war healthcare workforce lost

Health System Recovery Progress (2022-2026)

Infrastructure Restoration

Facility Type Pre-War (2020) 2022 2024 2026 Recovery Status
Hospitals 18 3 8 12 67% operational
Health Centers 320 45 120 208 65% operational
Health Posts 850 120 350 480 56% operational
Laboratories 45 5 15 22 49% operational

Current Challenges (July 2026)

IDP Health Crisis

  • Hitsats Camp: 333+ IDP deaths (May 2025-July 2026) due to hunger and lack of medicine
  • Adwa Camp: 125+ IDP deaths (October 2025-July 2026)
  • Medical Access: Free medical treatment and other items cut due to funding constraints
  • Medicine Shortages: Essential medicines regularly out of stock

Healthcare Access Barriers

  • Transportation: Limited ambulance services and referral systems
  • Financial Constraints: Unable to afford medical care and transportation
  • Staff Shortages: Many healthcare workers not returned to pre-war locations
  • Supply Chain Disruptions: Regular shortages of medicines and medical supplies

Key Health Indicators

Maternal and Child Health

  • Maternal Mortality Ratio: 620 per 100,000 live births (2026)
  • Infant Mortality Rate: 78 per 1,000 live births (2026)
  • Under-5 Mortality: 95 per 1,000 live births (2026)
  • Skilled Birth Attendance: 35% (down from 62% pre-war)
  • Antenatal Care Coverage: 45% (down from 78% pre-war)

Communicable Diseases

  • Malaria: Seasonal outbreaks, treatment capacity reduced
  • HIV/AIDS: 80,000+ people living with HIV, treatment disruptions
  • Tuberculosis: Increased incidence due to malnutrition and displacement
  • COVID-19: Vaccination rate at 35% (below national average)

Malnutrition

  • Acute Malnutrition: 22% of children under 5 (critical threshold)
  • Severe Acute Malnutrition: 8% of children under 5
  • Stunting: 42% of children under 5 (long-term impact)
  • Wasting: 15% of children under 5

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

War Trauma Impact

  • PTSD Prevalence: Estimated 35% among conflict-affected population
  • Depression: 28% prevalence among adults
  • Anxiety Disorders: 22% prevalence
  • Suicide Risk: Increased among youth and former combatants

Mental Health Services

  • Mental Health Facilities: 2 specialized centers (down from 5 pre-war)
  • Psychiatrists: 4 (down from 12 pre-war)
  • Psychologists: 15 (down from 35 pre-war)
  • Community Support: Limited psychosocial support programs

Healthcare Workforce

Staffing Levels

  • Doctors: 280 (down from 450 pre-war)
  • Nurses: 1,200 (down from 2,100 pre-war)
  • Midwives: 350 (down from 580 pre-war)
  • Health Officers: 180 (down from 320 pre-war)

Training and Capacity

  • Medical School: Mekelle University partially operational
  • Nursing Training: 60% of pre-war capacity
  • Continuing Education: Limited professional development opportunities
  • Staff Retention: Challenges retaining qualified staff

Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Chain

Medicine Availability

  • Essential Medicines: 45% availability (down from 85% pre-war)
  • Vaccines: 70% availability for routine immunization
  • Medical Equipment: 40% of pre-war equipment functional
  • Laboratory Supplies: 35% availability

Supply Chain Challenges

  • Cash Constraints: Limited bank liquidity affecting procurement
  • Transportation: Road conditions affecting distribution
  • Storage Facilities: Cold chain infrastructure partially restored
  • Quality Assurance: Limited capacity for quality control

Health Financing

Government Health Budget

  • Pre-War Allocation: $45 million annually
  • 2026 Allocation: $28 million (38% reduction)
  • Per Capita Spending: $3.80 (down from $6.50 pre-war)
  • External Funding: 65% of health budget from donors

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure

  • Household Health Spending: 72% of total health expenditure
  • Catastrophic Health Spending: 35% of households
  • Health Insurance Coverage: 12% (down from 28% pre-war)

Specialized Health Services

Emergency Services

  • Ambulance Services: 40% of pre-war capacity
  • Emergency Departments: 8 hospitals with functional emergency care
  • Trauma Care: Limited capacity for conflict-related injuries
  • Referral Systems: Partially restored

Chronic Disease Management

  • Diabetes: 15,000+ patients, treatment disruptions
  • Hypertension: 45,000+ patients, medication shortages
  • Cancer Care: Limited oncology services
  • Renal Dialysis: 2 functional dialysis machines (down from 8)

Humanitarian Health Response

NGO and UN Support

  • WHO: Technical assistance and coordination
  • MSF: Emergency medical services in several locations
  • Action Against Hunger: Weekly medical support to IDP camps
  • UNICEF: Maternal and child health programs

Current Gaps

  • Funding Shortages: 45% gap in health cluster funding
  • Access Constraints: Security limiting access to some areas
  • Coordination Challenges: Fragmented response among actors
  • Sustainability Concerns: Dependence on emergency funding

Recommendations and Priorities

Immediate Priorities (2026-2027)

  • Restore essential health services in IDP camps
  • Address medicine and medical supply shortages
  • Strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response
  • Expand mental health and psychosocial support

Medium-term Priorities (2027-2029)

  • Reconstruct damaged health infrastructure
  • Train and retain healthcare workforce
  • Strengthen health information systems
  • Expand health insurance coverage

Long-term Priorities (2029-2032)

  • Achieve universal health coverage
  • Strengthen health system resilience
  • Integrate mental health into primary care
  • Develop sustainable financing mechanisms

Related Content

Last updated: July 10, 2026