Following the UAE’s multilateral in-kind contribution and commitment to UNICEF to support COVAX in its global vaccine distribution efforts, the HOPE Consortium and UNICEF have entered into an agreement to support delivery of 65 ultra-cold freezers to Africa. The freezers are necessary for COVID-19 vaccines requiring ultra-cold storage and to enable African nations to efficiently absorb incoming vaccine supplies recently donated by the United States of America.
The delivery stands as a testament to the HOPE Consortium’s commitment to contribute to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilitated by HOPE Consortium partners and other logistics providers, the shipment will reach 21 African nations.
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, United Arab Emirates, said “the UAE remains committed to doing our part to mitigate the effects of the pandemic by helping countries overcome the logistical and technical challenges associated with the delivery of large-scale vaccination programmes. Our partnership with UNICEF plays a vital role in helping implement an effective global response to COVID-19, particularly within Africa. We are proud to support international efforts such as COVAX by dedicating the unique services of the HOPE Consortium.”
The COVAX mission seeks to ensure that vaccine supplies are equitably distributed to the world’s population. However, many nations face logistical limitations in their capacity to receive and safely store the temperature-sensitive vaccine supplies. To that end, the 65 ultra-cold freezers are a necessary preparatory strategy to enhance cold chain capabilities within recipient countries in anticipation of incoming deliveries of vaccines requiring storage at ultra-cold temperatures.
Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF’s Supply Division, said “these deliveries of ultra-cold freezers mark an important step towards equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This critical infrastructure will boost the capacity of African countries to scale COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and will also support the management of other vaccines that may require ultra-cold storage temperatures. UNICEF is pleased to work with partners like the HOPE Consortium to support governments to strengthen health systems for the COVID-19 response and beyond – making them resilient for the future.”
HOPE Consortium supports UNICEF and COVAX by transporting vital ultra-cold freezers to Africa
Ethiopia’s second Avocado oil processing factory goes operational
The second avocado oil processing factory in Ethiopia, WBM Avocado Oil, built with 104 million birr in Yirgalem Integrated Agro-Industrial Park has gone operational.
The factory is expected to create link with 40,000 farmers engaged in avocado production, and would export its products to international market.
It is to be recalled that Tradin Organic opened the first avocado oil processing factory in the same agro-industrial industrial park in Yirgalem town, and has been exporting products to international market since 2019.
Project that restores over 13,000 hectares of degraded land launched
A five-year project that restores over 13,000 hectares of degraded land in selected watersheds of Amhara, Oromia and Sidama regions was launched.
Restoration of the degraded lands will focus on the Blue Nile basin to avert forest degradation and gradually reduce over-flooding and sedimentation, it was learned.
The project, which is expected to restore and conserve degraded lands that improve the livelihood of climate change vulnerable people and communities, would be implemented at the grassroots levels.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Country Director, Lee Buyunghwa said Ethiopia’s 10 year development plan reaffirms the significance of climate resilient green economy, forest protection and development actions.
He added that the program is agreed in accordance with the strategic actions of the Ethiopian government for realizing climate resilient green economy.
Buyunghwa said, “I believe this program will be able to deliver its intended results by taking advantage of GGGI’s commitment to strong, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and expertise that the organization possesses and capitalizes on for global intervention in many countries.”
During the launching of the project, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Country Representative, Gemedo Dalle said many families in Ethiopia are dependent on the forest sector which contributes about 6 percent of GDP to the national economy.
WHO fails to collect data about destroyed health facilities in Ethiopia
World Health Organization (WHO) has failed to collect data of destructed health cares in Ethiopia by the terrorist TPLF though the organization has a mandate to do so.
Ministry of Health Deputy Communication Head Yordanos Alabachew said that WHO has a mandate to gather the data of health centers found around the conflict zone through the help of Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA).
According to Yordanos, WHO has a mandate to develop methods for systematic collection and dissemination of data during attacks on health facilities, health workers, health transport system, and patients in complex humanitarian emergencies at global level.
He said that despite over 2,700 health centers was destructed and looted by the terrorist group in Amhara and Afar states of Ethiopia and the ministry put the lists of the centers along with types of damages committed against them, WHO has not been undertaking any measure towards the destroyed centers.
The purpose of the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) is to systematically collect and make available data on attacks on health care, and their immediate impact on health care in countries facing emergencies.
