The sweet benefits of working as a single body proves integral in the acceleration of logistics activities between the Ethiopian and Djibouti customs as the duo now tailor plans to bolster their operations by use of a single document management.
In light of the occasion of recognizing the successful shipment and transportation of 1.3 million metric tons of fertilizer for this agricultural season, the role of the two customs have been stated as one of the reasons for the achievement attained in the operation.
According to leaders from Djibouti and Ethiopia customs, the operation of fertilizer was seamless due to the one accord inner workings of the two controlling entities.

According to Roba Megersa, CEO of the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE), the operation was a result of holistic cooperation between the two countries’ logistics entities and other offices like Customs of Djibouti and Ethiopia.
“The working in tandem of the customs’ operation, which on this occasion was 24 hours of the day has led to swift movement of cargo without further stay or delay,” the ESLSE’s CEO said while crediting the cooperation of the two countries’ customs offices.
Similarly, Debele Kabeta, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Customs Commission, and Rahma Omar Bogoreh, Director of Transit Department of Djibouti, stated that the strong relationship and cooperation between the two countries’ customs offices was one of the exemplary achievements registered on the logistics sector in addition to that of the fertilizer consignment.
They emphasized that the joint operation applies for all consignment and not only for some strategic cargos.
“We have established a one point between the two customs,” Omar Bogoreh told Capital as she elaborated that all stakeholders like freight forwarders are working in a single online system that helps to accelerate the logistics activity.
The two sides have also engaged to introduce more strong cooperation regarding declaration and other document based works.
She explained that on the new scheme a declaration given by Ethiopia or vice versa will be used by both countries without further issuance of documents.
“We need to have similar customs procedure based on a single customs administration document,” Debele told Capital.
“We are planning to do that and we will have a trip to Djibouti in the coming few weeks. We have had extensive discussion on the matter with our Djibouti counterparts and the upcoming Ethiopian Customs Commission’s team visit would be a procedure to finalize the process,” he said, adding, “The two customs are working together to facilitate the transportation and customs passenger of cargos for swift customs clearance and customs transit.
Djibouti is the major sea outlet for Ethiopian cargos. For the current agricultural season, Ethiopia has imported 1.3 million metric tons of fertilizer within only 203 days, which is now the shortest period when compared to past experiences.
Besides the electrified railway system, Ethiopia and Djibouti are connected with three highway facilities; Balho, Galafi and Dewalle roads. The two countries are also working to realize One Stop Border Post.

Axon Stroke and Spine Center on Saturday, October 1 2022 was inaugurated becoming the first comprehensive stroke center that incorporates state-of-the-art and most advanced artificial intelligence which enables biplane Cath lab suite which is the first in sub-Saharan Africa.
The center also offers the best services through its neurosurgical theatres, neurologic intensive care unit, new rehabilitation center, new stroke/neuro/trauma emergency department, CT scanner, and much more.
The stroke center is run by Dr. Wondwossen Gebreamanuel Tekle, who is an internationally renowned neurologist and neurointerventional surgeon with extensive subspeciality training in the United States and more than two decades of clinical experience in neuroscience. The center will focus on providing sustainable, high-quality care to patients with stroke and other complex neurological conditions.
Axon Stroke and Spine Center is created in partnership between an American based medical investment company founded by Dr. Wondwossen to support stroke care in Ethiopia, and Samaritan Surgical Center (a state-of-the-art and experienced surgical center) with an investment capital of 132 million Ethiopian birr. Axon Stroke and Spine Center is located at Samaritan surgical center which is connected to the American Medical Center. The opening of the stroke center is expected to create more convenience and exceptionally seamless flow of services for patients at the three institutions.
Whilst explaining their commitment to move from the United Stated to Ethiopia to open up the Center, co-founder and general manager Dr. Wondwossen Gebreamanuel expressed, “Stroke is almost becoming the new epidemic in our country as is the trend in most third world countries which now collectively carry two thirds of the global stroke burden. This is mainly due to the absence of effective preventive services, and total absence of acute treatment to reverse the initial damage from strokes and post-acute neuro-rehabilitation to decrease long-term disability.”
Comprehensive stroke services which Axon Stroke and Spine Center is currently providing include acute medical treatment with intravenous thrombolysis as well as neurointerventional mechanical thrombectomy in the biplane Cath lab suite. Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive brain surgery performed by accessing and opening clogged brain arteries with catheters and other devices which are first advanced through the arm or leg and then navigated inside to the brain without having to open the skull. The center also boasts neurological ICU which is equipped with advanced cerebral and hemodynamic monitors, latest diagnostic software and CT scanner, portable wireless ultrasound, X-ray, a centralized oxygen supply system, etc, which are well suited for acutely ill neurologic patients.
Besides strokes the center will have numerous neurological procedures including radiofrequency ablation for spinal pain and other pain disorders, using one of the most advanced radiofrequency generator machines as the first machine in Ethiopia.
As a teaching facility, Axon Stroke and Spine Center is collaborating with Addis Ababa University College of health sciences in training neurosurgeons and neurologists to become sub-specialists in stroke and neurointerventional surgery. The center will also provide telemedicine-based services where physicians will see patients without physically being present at the center.

Cerba HealthCare and the International Clinical Laboratories (ICL) sign strategic partnerships to support long term health response locally and increase of patient access to a broader range of laboratory testing across the continent.
The agreement was inked on September 29, 2022, and as indicated, the agreement is expected to leverage the world-class expertise range of Cerba HealthCare and its existing pan-African network Cerba Lancet Africa to sustainably meet the diagnostic tool expectations of patients, physicians and hospitals nationwide.
“This partnership reflects our desire to develop the existing diagnostic offering in Africa, meeting the needs of the greatest number of people across the continent,” said Stéphane Carré, Cerba Lancet Africa CEO at the signing ceremony adding, “We share with ICL management team the same desire to actively and continually upgrade the clinical pathology services in Ethiopia to enable healthcare providers to deliver essential medical support to patients throughout the country.”
As signaled in the signing ceremony, the partnership will not only allow ICL to bolster its unique position in Ethiopia but also serve thousands of patients from surrounding regions including Somalia, Djibouti and South Sudan.
ICL Ethiopia Managing Director Dr. Tamrat Bekele said that the partnership will allow ICL to tap into the huge resources and expertise of Cerba HealthCare, specifically in the field of; oncology, genetics, companion diagnostics, preventive medicine, patient and physician education and research to tackle unique and challenging issues.
“Joining the Cerba HealthCare family is one of my greatest achievements in terms of being able to expand our service and continue to provide quality tests to the population of Ethiopia and the surrounding region,” Dr. Tamrat underlined.
Cerba Lancet Africa is by majority owned by the French group Cerba HealthCare, benefiting from a unique positioning on the whole value chain of medical diagnosis. Alongside a worldwide presence through its expertise in clinical pathology for clinical trials, the Group has sound positions in Europe and Africa.
Cerba HealthCare set foot on the African continent in 2019 where it operates today in 15 countries under the Cerba Lancet Africa umbrella, providing access to accurate diagnosis and high-quality care to more almost 3 million people yearly.
In Ethiopia, ICL stands as the reference player in clinical pathology with unparalleled experience and reputation. Its strong presence across the country allowed the ICL’s team to play a critical role in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed vulnerabilities of the numerous health systems across the globe and specifically the African one, together with the need for increased testing and diagnostic services.

A shorter and less toxic treatment for people with visceral leishmaniasis was shown to be effective thanks to a study conducted in Eastern Africa by the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and its partners. The results were published in The Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.
The new treatment consists of a combination of two drugs: miltefosine (MF), the only oral drug available for leishmaniasis treatment, and paromomycin (PM), an injectable antibiotic.
‘This new treatment is great news for the thousands of patients affected by visceral leishmaniasis in the region. It will eliminate one painful and toxic injection from the treatment and is therefore safer for those affected,’ said Prof. Ahmed Musa, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Khartoum and Principal Investigator of the clinical trial conducted in Sudan.
Leishmaniasis is the deadliest parasitic killer after malaria. Its most severe form, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is fatal if left untreated. There are 50,000 to 90,000 new cases of the disease annually, with the highest number of cases worldwide reported in Eastern African countries: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The disease affects people in resource-limited settings, arid and semi-arid areas. Half of them are children under 15. Leishmaniasis is also a climate-sensitive disease, and its impact could get worse. Therefore, if not addressed, the most vulnerable will continue to suffer.
The current first-line treatment in Eastern Africa consists of paromomycin (PM), an injectable antibiotic used in combination with sodium stibogluconate (SSG), administered either through injection or intravenously. It remains sub-optimal, as patients may suffer from rare but heavy side effects, such as cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and pancreatitis associated with SSG. The treatment is also difficult to administer since patients must endure two painful injections every day for 17 days.
‘The current treatment has significant socio-economic impact as patients are forced to stay in hospital for extended periods and have to miss work or school. With the new treatment patients will spend less time in hospital,’ said Prof. Musa.
The results announced today stem from a clinical trial initiated in 2017 in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda by the AfriKADIA Consortium with funding from The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). The study compared a new combination of two drugs, miltefosine and paromomycin, given for 14 days, to the standard of care of sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin given for 17 days.