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Ethiopia News

First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Ethiopia

The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The case, which was announced on the 13th of March 2020, is the first one to be reported in Ethiopia since the beginning of the outbreak in China in December 2019.
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Ethiopia passes landmark smoking excise bill

The Ethiopian Parliament has passed landmark legislation with the express aim of curbing smoking in the country.  As a result of the legislation, Ethiopia has now introduced a mixed-excise system on cigarettes in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).  This involves a 30% tax rate of the cost of producing cigarettes, in addition to a specific excise rate of eight Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (USD$ 0.25) on each individual packet.
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Ethiopia stepping up readiness for coronavirus disease outbreak

Home to one of Africa’s busiest international airline hubs, Ethiopia is bolstering preparedness to contain a potential outbreak of coronavirus disease, now known as COVID-19. Health authorities are tightening up surveillance, diagnosis, epidemic response coordination and public health education to swiftly detect cases and limit widespread infections. Ethiopia is among 13 African countries the World Health Organization (WHO) considers as top priority for COVID-19 preparedness due to direct links or a high volume of travel to China. No case has been reported in the continent. WHO is strengthening its support to countries to detect and manage suspect cases and ensure a robust response when the first case is detected.
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WHO, UNICEF and Rotary International Joint Statement on WPD: WHO, UNICEF and Rotary ...

24th October 2019 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Marking the commemoration of World Polio Day 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Rotary International, jointly reaffirm their commitment to the fight against polio. As we commemorate World Polio Day 2019 for the 7th time in Ethiopia, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who is also Chair of the GPEI Polio Oversight Board and the Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (GCC) in Geneva, Switzerland are co-hosting the web-based event today to declare the Wild poliovirus Type 3 is eradicated globally.
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Ethiopia commemorates 1st World Patient Safety Day

Ethiopia marks the first Annual World Patient Safety Day by adding its voice to the international call, “Patient Safety: a global health priority!”  H.E Dr. Lia Tadesse, State Minister of Health, Dr. Yakob Seman, Medical Services Director General of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Paul Mainuka, Health Systems Strengthening Team Leader of WHO Ethiopia Country Office, and about 90 attendees representing the MOH and its various agencies; professional, patient and student associations; hospitals; academic and research institutions; local and international development partners; and the media took part in the event which was conducted on 17 September 2019 in Addis Ababa.
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Ethiopia to celebrate its New Year tomorrow, 12th September

Today, Pagume 6 is the last day of Ethiopian year 2011; Ethiopia will enter the New Year 2012, Enkutatash, on September 12th.

As a Land of Origin Ethiopian calendar, unlike the Gregorian’s calendar is composed of 13 Months. While the 12 months have 30 days each, the 13th month named Pagume has regularly five (5) days but changes to  six (6) days every leap year, this year it has six (6) days.
As such, the Ethiopian New Year starts in September, or Meskerem in the local language, not in January.
  

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Countries launch synchronized cross border campaign to fight against polio: Somali r...

Polio is a highly infectious, debilitating disease which affects children and causes permanent paralysis. Polio is not curable, and can only be prevented by vaccination. Families and communities must ensure their children are vaccinated both during polio campaigns and through routine immunization. The Horn of Africa is currently in emergency with imported poliovirus of circulating vaccine derived polioviruses placing polio eradication as unfinished business. Circulating vaccine Derived-Polio Virus (cVDPV) outbreak was reported recently from Somaliland and the first-round quick response has been conducted in July 2019. Since then four more cases have been reported in Puntland in Somalia, one in Bosaso district, one in Ufyan district, one on the border with Somali region in Ethiopia and one in Dollo Zone Bokh Wareda in Somali Region of Ethiopia.
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Ethiopia joins global efforts to end cholera by 2030

23 July 2019: Addis Ababa – The responsibility to eliminate cholera in Ethiopia – a country where almost a third of the population has sub-standard water supplies – lies with stakeholders at all levels, from ministries to partners and non-governmental organizations.
This was the message to delegates at a recent high level briefing with sectoral ministries, regional health bureaus, partners and donors on a multi-sectoral approach to eliminating cholera from Ethiopia by 2030.

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