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Addis Ababa, December 24, 2020 (ECA) – “We are gathered here today to extend our hand of solidarity in response to a call from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) for support in its response activities to COVID-19”, Carlos Haddad said. who heads the Administration Division of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
He spoke during a ceremony to deliver two 30-seater Nissan Civilian buses to EPHI on December 24, 2020 in Addis Ababa, as part of a broader United Nations support for COVID-19 efforts in the country.
“Fighting COVID-19 requires that we all work together: governments, individuals and organizations from all industries and sectors. Therefore, the ECA is pleased to provide the EPHI with these vehicles for use in the emergency response to COVID-19 as we all pray for an end to the pandemic, ”said Mr. Haddad.
The donation follows a request from the EPHI, which currently manages a Public Health Emergency Operations Center in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
EPHI Deputy Director General Aschalew Abayneh expressed his gratitude for the “generous donation,” which he said will go a long way toward addressing the “severe transportation shortage” for his staff involved in various emergency response activities including surveillance. , case management, laboratory and contact tracing, among others. “These activities require reaching the most remote areas of the country,” he said.
The event was organized in collaboration with WHO and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. IFAD’s Acting Resident Coordinator and Country Director, Ulac Demirag, congratulated EPHI and the Ethiopian government for the “timely and effective response to limit the spread of COVID despite several challenges”.
Mr. Demirag warned, however, that the pandemic was “far from over” and urged stakeholders to continue to respond appropriately to protect lives. He said the UN family has been a partner of Ethiopia “since the COVID19 outbreak, both in terms of supporting the general health response across the country and trying to mitigate the social and economic aspects of the pandemic.”
Commenting on the news of COVID-19 vaccines, WHO’s Dr Patrick Abok said: “I know we are all excited, but we must continue to implement public health measures such as hand washing, wearing of masks and distancing social because we believe that these strategies have worked and will continue to work. Vaccines are not a magic formula. “
Mr. Abayneh said the buses will enhance the Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s ability to plan and execute tasks in a more timely and effective manner.
