At Mekelle Health Sciences College in Ethiopia, a class for health extension workers strengthens their skills as providers of services in their villages. In partnership with the Global Fund, the country has trained more than 38,000 health extension workers, who do basic diagnosis and connect their communities to health-care facilities. The goal of the program is to bring access to healthcare closer to home for rural communities, and to treat and prevent diseases before they spiral out of control. In addition the program has allowed thousands of women to enter the workforce and has contributed in transforming gender roles in their communities. Health extension workers throughout the country are improving maternal and childcare, offering TB and malaria diagnosis and preventing many other diseases.