The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the USAID Urban TB Local Organizations Network II Activity, a five year, $8 million (450 million Birr) flagship project to control and prevent Tuberculosis (TB) and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) in selected urban regions of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Shaggar City in the Oromia region, and Harari National Regional State. Karen Koprince, Acting USAID/Ethiopia Health Office Director, together with His Excellency Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, and Artist Alemayehu Tadesse, Goodwill Ambassador for the project, launched the project in the Mekedonia Shelter for the Elderly, who are beneficiaries of this project.

The project will provide comprehensive support to the people and Government of Ethiopia to achieve the United Nations High Level declaration targets of ending TB by 2030 by detecting at least 95 percent of TB and DR-TB cases, successfully treating 95 percent of detected TB and DR-TB patients, preventing TB infection and progression to TB disease, and building a resilient urban TB system.