Ethiopia starts commemorating World Polio Day in Afar
As Ethiopia commemorated the 2022 World Polio Day (WPD) in Semera, Afar on Saturday November 5, it was stated that to highlight progress made by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners towards polio eradication; the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and ROTARY will reaffirm the commitment to continue delivering on their promise until polio is eliminated in Ethiopia.
WPD commemorations for this year kicked off globally on 24th October 2022, with the theme “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and Children.”
On the day, Fikadu Yadeta, Advisor at MoH, said that with regards to eradicating the virus, various successes have been attained in the efforts carried out in the past year. In addition, the ministry’s health advisor underlined that stiff attention is still required as cases are being registered.
Manmade and natural disasters which have occurred in the past few years were stated as a challenge in covering all areas for Polio and other vaccinations for children.
Global partners and health workers have worked tirelessly for many years to bring polio cases down by 100 per cent worldwide. Africa has also made tremendous progress towards the eradication of the wild poliovirus (WPV), and in 2020, the WHO Africa Region was certified as wild polio-free, thanks to countries’ sustained commitment and coordination of partners.
However, the job is not done yet as non-wild polio variant continues to circulate in under-immunized communities threatening a few countries in Africa and beyond.
Countries must commit to vaccinating every child and strengthening disease surveillance to end any form of polio, anywhere in the world, as it is a threat to children everywhere.
Last month, donors pledged about US$ 2.6 billion at the World Health Summit that will help the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to continue its critical role in fighting poliomyelitis to strengthen health systems around the world to end polio.
The remarkable progress in Ethiopia would not have been possible without the leadership of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the commitment of frontline workers, and the generous support of polio partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ROTARY, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USAID, WHO, UNICEF, Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Associations (CCRDA/CORE Group) and other Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners.
Eima International attracts huge crowds
As the 45th edition of EIMA International, the international exhibition of agricultural machinery, was opened on Wednesday November 9, a huge crowd gathered to witness agricultural spectacles in Bologna, Italy.
Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso while opening one of the world’s biggest agricultural expo, said “agricultural machinery is a sector that can take a piece of Italy everywhere. Your exhibition brings together the best of the agricultural machinery sector, which is known and valued worldwide. Present throughout the country with small, medium and large-sized companies, you express an annual turnover of around 14 billion euro and allocate 75% of your production to foreign markets. You are characterised by the extraordinary breadth of the range you are able to offer, managing to satisfy a worldwide demand for food that is increasing in quantity and quality. Eima International is one of the most important events in the world for the sector, and is an opportunity for exchange and growth for all agricultural mechanisation companies, which are increasingly able to take a piece of Italy everywhere.”
The ribbon at the Bologna event was cut by the President of FederUnacoma Alessandro Malavolti, the President of Bologna Fiere Gianpiero Calzolari, the Managing Director of FederUnacoma Simona Rapastella, the Rector of the University of Bologna Giovanni Molari, the Councillor of the Municipality of Bologna with responsibility for agriculture Daniele Ara, the Director General for the promotion of the country system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lorenzo Angeloni and the President of the ICE Agency Carlo Ferro.
“Once again,” highlights Malavolti President of FederUnacoma, “we open this Eima International with truly significant numbers, a sign of the great strength of the agricultural mechanisation sector”.
The Bologna exhibition – organised by the Italian manufacturers’ federation FederUnacoma and staged in the exhibition centre from 9 to 13 November was the only industry event on the international scene to hold its own edition last year, under restrictions due to the health emergency.
“The results were very good in terms of exhibitors and visitors,” explained Simona Rapastella Managing Director of FederUnacoma “the exhibition confirmed its international character despite the stoppages in some countries and the constraints due to security protocols. The numbers are those of a great event. 1,500 manufacturers are attending the Bologna exhibition, 480 of which are foreign, representing 40 countries, and visitors from 160 countries are expected. The exhibition area covers a total of 128 thousand square metres, 8 thousand of which are located outside in the exhibition halls. Over the years, the Bologna exhibition has established itself as a pole of attraction, and the 2022 edition fully confirms its international character. And it is no coincidence that Ambassador Angeloni, President Ferro and Rector Molari met the official delegations organised by ICE Agency and Maeci in collaboration with FederUnacoma at a specific event during their visit to the exhibition. Once again, the numbers were outstanding: 450 businesspeople selected from 80 countries. An entire pavilion of no less than 3 thousand square metres, the ‘International Delegations Pavilion’, located between Pavilion 19 and the Palazzo dei Congressi, is dedicated exclusively to business meetings between exhibiting companies and foreign delegations.
