Ethiopia News

Every year, the month January, is marked as safe motherhood month to advocate and mobilize resources for increasing access to quality maternal health services. This year’s theme “No woman should die while giving life” raises awareness on preventable maternal and infant mortality in Ethiopia and advocates for increased deliveries at health facilities. A number of events are taking place throughout January to draw the attention of all Ethiopians to the importance of healthy pregnancy and motherhood.

The fourth Ethiopian HIV/AIDS Prevention Summit, held in Jigjiga, capital of the Somali Regional state of Ethiopia, 29-30 December 2014, drew attention to the concerning rise in HIV prevalence in the region. HIV prevalence has increased to 1,1% in 2014 from 0,7% in 2011. The national HIV/AIDS prevention summit called for intensified HIV response efforts in the region and the entire country. 

A new Dracunculiasis (commonly known as Guinea Worm Disease) case has been confirmed in Ethiopia. The third case of 2014 was reported on 2 December from Gog district in Gambella Region, southwest Ethiopia. Aggressive interventions, such as abating of ponds, were immediately taken to prevent other villagers from getting the disease.

Wardher. 6 January 2015. Since 5 January 2014 no new cases of wild polio virus have been reported from the Somali region of Ethiopia. Dr Pierre M’Pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, and Dr Omar Mohammed Farah, Somali Regional Health Bureau Head, visited Wardher town in Doollo Zone, Somali region, on 5 January 2015 to congratulate the Zonal Administration and WHO/UNICEF Operations Base staff for their persistent efforts to ensure that every last child gets vaccinated against this paralyzing disease.

A WHO training course fortuberculosis (TB) control programme managers organized by the World Health Organization Ethiopia Country Office and the Federal Ministry of Health took place during 24 November to 5 December at the ALERT Training Center in Addis Ababa.

The ongoing epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa poses considerable risk to currently unaffected countries, including Ethiopia. To support currently unaffected countries with strengthening their preparedness for an introduction of EVD, WHO and partners are accelerating Ebola preparedness activities, such as the development of a preparedness checklist outlining the key components and tasks of an Ebola response. 

Addis Ababa. 29 December 2014 – Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the World Health Organization Country Office for Ethiopia (WCO) joined forces in the effort to heighten Ebola virus disease (EDV) preparedness in Ethiopia. KOICA’s support to WHO will contribute to strengthening the capacity of the Ethiopian health system to prepare for Ebola in line with the country’s EVD outbreak preparedness plan.  

Addis Ababa. 14 December 2014 – Represented African countries and development partners agree to step-up action to ensure elimination goals of lymphatic filariasis (also known as elephantiasis) by 2020 and ohchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) by 2025, and the control and eventual elimination of other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 

Addis Ababa. 8 December 2014 – The 20th Session of the Joint Advisory Forum (JAF) of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) kicked off in Addis Ababa today with the theme, “Building partnerships to achieve the accelerated elimination of Preventive Chemotherapy NTDs in the African Region,” bringing together governments, development partners, civil societies, non-governmental organizations, the research community and academia. 

GAMBELLA. 1 December 2014. The 26th World AIDS Day was commemorated in Gambella Town on 30 November to mobilize people to know their HIV status and seek treatment services. A total of 3383 people were tested at the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign held in Gambella Stadium in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record on ‘Most people being tested for HIV in single venue for eight hours’. Out of those tested, 82 (2.4%) were positive and linked to health facilities for support and further follow up.