By our staff reporter

In Ethiopia, MSF teams have been working since July to respond to cholera outbreaks across the country. Collaborating closely with the respective Regional Health Bureaus, they have treated nearly 1,000 individuals affected by cholera in the regions of Amhara, Afar, and Somali.

In Amhara, MSF offered vital support to the Health Bureau during a cholera outbreak in West Gondar that began in mid-July. Subsequently, on August 24, another outbreak was confirmed in Kumar Refugee Camp (KRC). The conflict in Sudan triggered a significant influx of refugees into West Gondar, with approximately 10,000 people finding shelter in KRC under dire conditions.

Through five intensive weeks of intervention, MSF treated a total of 470 cholera patients, successfully reducing the number of cases to zero within three weeks. To further prevent the spread of the disease, MSF administered oral cholera vaccines to all refugees in KRC, as well as neighboring host communities supported by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, emergency latrines were constructed in the camp to improve sanitation access, and medical supplies were donated to the Zonal Health Bureau. The remarkable success of this intervention owes much to the dedication and hard work of the refugee community, who served as health promoters and actively supported water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities day and night.

In Afar, the cholera outbreak was aggravated by insufficient potable water supply, inadequate sanitation facilities, and poor living conditions, impacting seven woredas in the region by mid-September. MSF stepped in to assist Dubti General Hospital by establishing a Cholera Treatment Center, facilitating safe patient and staff management. MSF’s support encompassed case management, infection prevention and control measures, water and sanitation infrastructure improvements, and health promotion activities. Between September 12 and October 27, MSF successfully treated 431 people with cholera. The Cholera Treatment Center was handed over to the Regional Health Bureau at the end of October, ensuring the continuity of care.

Currently, MSF is actively responding to a cholera outbreak in Jijjiga, Somali region, which began in mid-September. MSF teams are collaborating with the Regional Health Bureau and the World Health Organization (WHO) to build capacity, provide essential donations, establish a Cholera Treatment Center, and strengthen surveillance efforts.

Through their unwavering dedication, MSF teams in Ethiopia are making a significant impact in combating cholera outbreaks, saving lives, and bolstering healthcare infrastructure.

By Eyasu Zekarias

Hora Tech, a newly launched software development company, announces it has kick started operations as a technology contractor with already one million USD injected into its projects. 

Kedamawi Mulalem, Chief Technology Expert at Hora Tech, in an exclusive revealed to Capital, stating, “This independent technology center is the first software development company that aims to change the technology system by updating the procedures of institutions.”

Hora Tech, a part of Hora Trading Group, is a technology company known for its; coffee export, automotive assembly, real estate and fertilizer bag manufacturing.

Hora Trading Group, which has been engaged in various fields for the past 20 years, has announced that it will invest up to 10 million dollars in the next five years for its newly introduced software development company.

It is believed that the new technology will generate 5 to 10 million dollars in foreign currency by exporting software works and services to foreign countries.

The trading group celebrated the coming to life of the software firm on October 30, 2023, through a graduation and software promotion program.

By Eyasu Zekarias

Ethiopia’s business network gears to bounce back from the fall out of AGOA, a partnership that lasted for the past 20 years, courtesy of the “African Sourcing and Fashion Week” which is said to be of great importance to the industry.

It can be recalled that the United States in January 2022 terminated Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from the AGOA trade preference program due to actions taken by each of the governments in violation of the AGOA Statute.

This event, which involves more than 300 exporters representing more than 25 countries, is expected to be attended by more than 6,000 industrial raw material supplier experts and an international audience.

Goshu Negash, president of the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association, in an exclusive with Capital regarding the importance of African Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), said, “Even though we tried to continue with AGOA, it failed. The ban has allowed them to use other domestic proxy products as well as European market options.”

The event is said to provide an opportunity for more than 30 African designers and international buyers with Ethiopia in the mix to strengthen its network and brand.

The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was celebrated in Ethiopia through a double theme, “Reinvigorating Civic Space and the Media Landscape Space in Ethiopia Post-2018” and “Accountability for Violations of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.”

As Albab Tesfaye, Director, Office of the Chief Commissioner EHRC, informed Capital in an exclusive, “This year’s conference is different because the representatives of the Ethiopian government will present commitments on the 75th International Declaration of Human Rights, which is scheduled to be held in Geneva on December 11 and 12, 2023.”

Human Rights Day is celebrated worldwide every year on December 10, 2023, marking the 75th anniversary of the Declaration.

Human Rights Day captures all the moments from this year’s commemoration and seeks to raise awareness of the universal and inalienable nature of human rights, especially among young people, to inspire people to create a collective humanitarian movement that will allow them to fight for and take their rights.