Ethiopia News

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.

Addis Ababa. 25 November 2014 -- As in the past, the United Nations delivering as One in Ethiopia supported and took part in the 14th Edition of the Great Ethiopian Run on 23 November 2014, organized this year with the theme, "Empower Women, Empower a Nation".

UN heads of agencies were present at the event to participate in special ceremonies or participate in the Run.  Among those present were Mr Eugene Owusu, UNDP Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Humanitarian Coordinator, and Dr Pierre M'pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative. 

Addis Ababa. 24 November 2014 – The third polio outbreak assessment in Ethiopia was successfully conducted on 17-21 November 2014. The assessment follows a recommendation from the Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group (TAG) at its last meeting in August 2014 to conduct a follow up assessment.

Bahir Dar. 25 November 2014. A high-level Nutrition Advocacy Mission urged for sustained efforts to accelerate nutrition interventions and multi-sectoral linkages in Ethiopia. The round table was convened by WHO on this occasion to sensitize government delegates and partners on the Accelerating Nutrition Improvements project and other UN Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger and undernutrition (REACH) activities supporting the implementation of Ethiopia's National Nutrition Programme.

Addis Ababa. 21 November 2014 – A project established by the Tigray Region’s Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs (BoLSA) in 2009 to address social determinants of health at community level improves access to healthcare and ensures social protection through Community Care Coalitions (CCCs). 

Addis Ababa. 13 November 2014 – The first round polio National Immunization Days (NID) in 2014 kicked off today in Addis Ababa in a ceremony held at Edget Betigil Kindergarten in Lideta Sub-City of Addis Ababa.  The launching ceremony, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Addis Ababa City Health Bureau, was attended by the World Health Organization and polio partners. 

The Government of Ethiopia plans to deploy 200 volunteer health professionals to Ebola affected countries in West Africa along with USD 500,000 of financial support. Ethiopia’s support to West Africa will focus on strengthening case management, surveillance and organization of community care.

A campaign to vaccinate 27 million Ethiopians between one and 29 years of age against Meningococcal Meningitis A began in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Oromia Region and Addis Ababa in October; the campaing will be completed by 7 November 2014.

WHO, APOC and Ethiopia strengthen efforts to eliminate Onchocerciasis

A high-level joint mission led by Dr Kebede Worku, Ethiopian State Minister of Health with Dr Pierre-M’pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr Jean-Baptiste Roungou, Director of the Africa Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) and team leaders and technical officers from the three entities visited the Onchocerciasis Program in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State.