An oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign was launched to protect at-risk populations in cholera-affected woredas (districts) across eight regions: Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, Sidma and Somali. Covering 89 woredas, including Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and refugee camps (Sudan), the campaign achieved 98.4% coverage, vaccinating over 10,196,575 people.

“With the leadership of the EPHI and collaboration of partners, the campaign was conducted successfully despite challenges posed by conflict and other emergencies,” said Dr. Patrick Abok, WHO Ethiopia Emergency Preparedness and Response Lead. “Both the public and the vaccinators displayed commendable commitment to the campaign’s success,” he added.

Two years after the cholera outbreak began in August 2022, the country has continued to battle the disease, with a recent increase in the number of cases. The re-emergence of the outbreak in the Amhara region, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict and new displacements, poses a dual burden.

Under the leadership of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), multi-sectoral stakeholders have implemented response measures to interrupt transmission. These measures include house-to-house disinfection, water testing and treatment, and latrine construction. Risk communication and community engagement efforts were also undertaken to promote healthy behaviours and eliminate risky practices like open defecation. Active case search and case management were continuing.

Despite these efforts, lack of funding is severely impeding the response, including for the STOP CHOLERA NOW! campaign launched by the EPHI. It is critical that ongoing multi-sectoral interventions be combined with extensive investments in safe water supply and sanitation systems to combat the outbreak effectively.

WHO surveillance teams worked with government public health emergency management (PHEM) teams to identify the outbreak and launch a timely response in August 2022.WHO was part of the rapid response teams (RRT), and the Ethiopian National African Volunteer Health Corps initiative Strengthening&Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (AVoHC-SURGE) was deployed to respond to the outbreak. WHO teams provided technical support in coordination, water sanitation and hygiene, risk communication, case management, vaccination campaigns, and medical supplies, including the construction of cholera treatment facilities in the affected regions. WHO also supported capacity building and training in response intervention.

The teams trained vaccinators according to WHO OCV guidelines and provided supportive supervision to ensure quality campaign implementation. WHO also facilitated the country’s vaccine request to the International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) through the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and provided logistical support for the campaign.

In line with the Global Roadmap to Eliminate Cholera by 2030 and as part of the national cholera elimination strategy, OCV campaigns are conducted in affected and surrounding woredas following cholera outbreaks. This helps stop disease transmission while intersectoral response teams work to improve water safety and educate the public on good sanitary and hygiene practices.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It results in severe acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration. Symptoms can appear between 12 hours and 5 days after consumption of contaminated food or water. Cholera affects both children and adults and can be fatal within hours if untreated, but early detection and fluid replacement with oral rehydration solutions or intravenous fluids can save lives.

In addition to Cholera, the worrying expansion of measles outbreaks is causing increased vulnerability due to delayed emergency vaccination campaigns caused by a shortage of vaccines.

WHO and health cluster members collaborated with the EPHI and regional health bureaus in the OCV campaign. Ethiopia utilized one-third of the global stockpile for the OCV campaign, underscoring the urgency and magnitude of the situation. The country urges continued support from international partners to address ongoing funding shortages and key transmission drivers like overcrowding and inadequate water treatment chemicals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, held a virtual meeting regarding the work of the Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Committee for Economic Bodies. The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohamed Abazid, Legal Advisor to the Minister, Dr. Hussein Essa, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Committee for Economic Entities and former Chairman of the Planning and Budget Committee in Parliament, and Mrs. Sherine El-Sharqawi, Assistant Minister of Finance.

The meeting addressed the role of the Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Committee for Economic entities in coordinating with the relevant ministers overseeing the economic bodies to develop a comprehensive vision. This vision includes a study of the 59 economic bodies in line with the state’s objectives to apply the highest standards of performance and governance within these entities.

The meeting also discussed the mechanisms for the committee’s work to achieve its assigned tasks, in implementation of directives from Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation will provide all necessary logistical support, data, and information in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

In this regard, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to ongoing coordination and monitoring with the Technical Secretariat to provide all necessary information and data. This ensures precise and well-governed steps in evaluating the status of economic entities, aligning with Egypt’s goal of governing these entities and enhancing their operational efficiency and effectiveness within the state’s plan, thereby increasing their contribution to the national economy.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat further clarified that strengthening the role of economic entities in the national economy and optimizing their resources positively impacts the state’s economic and financial performance.

On his part, Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to active participation in the work of the technical committee by providing all historical data and details of guarantees issued to these entities. This will aid in developing comprehensive executive plans aimed at enhancing the efficiency and profitability of the economic entities.

The Minister of Finance highlighted the importance of creating clear and detailed executive plans to address the most significant financial risks facing some economic bodies currently. This will ensure increased surpluses from these bodies and a higher transfer of surpluses to the public treasury, thus contributing to maximizing non-tax revenues for the budget, in line with the recommendations of the House of Representatives, the current government, the National Dialogue Committee, and most international institutions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.

The East African Community (EAC) countries are committed to developing a competitive national leather sector, with the goal of driving significant economic growth and fostering regional development.

National Coordination Committee Meetings were held in July in Kenya, Rwanda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, under the leadership of the EAC, with support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and GFA Consulting Group, under the EU-funded EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II). These consultative workshops aimed to assess and monitor progress in implementing the EAC Leather and Leather Products Strategy, driving strategic sector development and enhancing regional collaboration.

During the meetings, stakeholders shared updates on the national implementation of the EAC Leather Strategy. Discussions focused on identifying opportunities for national value chain upgrades, prioritizing actions to strengthen the sector, and enhancing connections between national and regional platforms. Participants emphasized the importance of regional integration and collaboration, highlighting the exchange of best practices and improved trade conditions among EAC countries.

Key recommendations for fostering growth in the leather sector included:
•    Analyzing export levies impact for the member states and the region: Conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of export levies on raw hides, skins, wet blue leather and crust to ensure maximum benefits for the sector.
•    Activating the Leather Development Fund in each country: A dedicated fund, potentially sourced from export levies, can be utilized to support the construction of manufacturing facilities, the formation of industry clusters, and other related initiatives.
•    Establishing common manufacturing facilities with shared machinery in strategic locations to boost local footwear production and support smallholders.
•    Phasing out second-hand shoe imports: Advocating for a gradual elimination of second-hand shoe imports to protect and develop the local leather industry.
•    Enhancing Public-Private Dialogue with a collaborative structure to guide policymakers and track progress towards improving industry competitiveness and growth.

These recommendations will be forwarded to the EAC Secretariat for further action and will be discussed at the regional meeting later this year to enhance leather sector competitiveness and strengthen integration.

Jean Baptiste Havugimana, Director of Productive Sectors (DPS), EAC Secretariat said: “Integration within the EAC involves uniting both strong and weak members to ensure collective progress. Strong members must not advance at the expense of weaker ones, and weaker members should strive to rise, not hinder. All partner states benefit equally from this balanced approach. For effective industrialization, collaboration among Partner States and non-state actors, including public, private, and civil society sectors, is crucial in building a unified, prosperous and competitive regional economy.” 

The leather sector in the EAC holds significant potential for industrial, social, and economic growth. Currently, the region has limited capacity to develop finished leather and leather products. However, there is big potential to trade more within the EAC and create value addition domestically to cater to the regional market. This will require efforts to build capacity of all the stakeholders along the value chain, implement a harmonized grading system and a pricing structure that rewards higher quality of hides and skins, establish manufacturing leather hubs and clusters, and create policies that encourage investment in value-added products. These efforts can diversify the sector’s export base, generate employment, and reduce poverty.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided three vehicles to the Ghana Health Service for use by the Western, Western North, and Ahafo Regional Health Directorates.

The new 2024 double-cabin Nissan Navara pickups will allow regional health directorate staff to supervise service provision at healthcare facilities and will provide essential medical support and commodities to communities, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.

“The United States is committed to strengthening Ghana’s health systems. This donation through the USAID Care Continuum Project reflects our dedication to improving primary health care services across the 29 districts in the three regions,” said USAID/Ghana Acting Health Office Director, Dr. Stephen Dzisi.

Since October 2019, USAID, through the Care Continuum Project, has donated essential equipment, including 86 high-grade hospital beds, 116 motorbikes, three prefabricated office units, 11 refurbished vehicles, and information and communication technology tools including providing internet connectivity, as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s health systems.

“These vehicles will support us to reach our communities with much-needed medical support. We will work to sustain the great gains made by the Care Continuum Project,” noted the Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Atsu Dodor, while receiving the donated vehicles.

The United States is Ghana’s largest development partner.  In 2023, USAID provided over $90 million to Ghana’s health sector for malaria, maternal, newborn, and child health, HIV, global health security, and more.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Ghana.