Rotary Ethiopia donates PPE’s, medical supplies

Rotary Ethiopia in collaboration with the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, William Grant and Sons Brands Ltd, Swiss Club Addis Ababa and its global networks donated six million birr worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies to the Ministry of Health as part of its continued support to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
These contributions are mobilized by the Rotary clubs of Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa Bole, and Debre Berhan. The donations include essential PPE like scrubs, goggles, heavy-duty gloves, medical footwear, and equipment like dual-use oxygen concentrators, multi-parameter patient monitors, nasal cannula, and fingertip oximeters.
“Most of these items are purchased from manufacturers and importers in the country to support the local business to continue providing the highly needed employment opportunities to our people during these difficult times,” reads a statement from Rotary Ethiopia.
Four small and medium manufacturing enterprises and at least five trading and distributing firms which have an estimated number of 360 employees were awarded the business.
“The enormity of the challenges that must be tackled to combat the COVID-19 is requiring better organization, effective designing of our interventions, and a systemic approach to solutions, among others. The need for coordination with the target beneficiaries and national and global endeavors are of paramount importance to make deliveries relevant, quick, impactful, and sustainable,” further reads the statement sent to Capital.
“Rotary Ethiopia is determined to continue supporting our national effort in this fight against this pandemic as long as it takes. The endeavor is also part of Rotary’s long-standing commitment and dedication to serving our communities,” said Lia Tadesse (MD) Minister of Ministry of Health during the handing over ceremony.
Rotary is a non-political, non-religious, and not-for-profit worldwide network of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian services, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and promotes goodwill and peace in the world under its motto of “Service above self.” It was established in 1905 and now operates in more than 220 countries organized in above 35,000 clubs with more than 1.2 million Rotarian members across the globe.
Rotary in Ethiopia has been serving the communities since 1955. Currently, there are 21 Rotary clubs in the country. These clubs have daughter Rotaract clubs with members between the age of 18 – 30 and interact clubs with members between the ages of 12 to 18. At the moment, there are 15 Rotaract clubs and 20 Interact clubs in the country. With nearly 2000 members across these groups of volunteers, the Rotary movement is expanding fast all over the country. New clubs have been established, such as the Rotary Club of Goba, in Bale zone, the Rotary club of Qarsa in Arsi Zone, the Rotary club of Asella in Arsi zone of the Oromia regional state and the Rotary Club of Lalibela in the Amhara regional state. More clubs are under formation in all the regions of the country with lofty plans for expanding volunteerism, goodwill, and high ethical standards among the youth and adults all over the country.