World Health Organization has actively engaged itself in following up and doing assessment of the wellbeing of Ethiopians, according to World Health Organization.
As the press release of WHO to The Ethiopian Herald, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of WHO said that: “There will be no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future. However, there is a roadmap to a situation where we can control COVID-19 and get on with our lives. No matter where a country is in its epidemic curve, it is never too late to take decisive action. Solidarity is the key ingredient to fight COVID-19. Together, we can stop the virus from spreading, save lives, and build back better”.
When we have an effective COVID-19 vaccine, it will need to be rolled out at unprecedented speed and scale. Equity must be a central focus of our efforts. Too often, African countries end up at the back of the queue for new technologies.
WHO is working with partners to raise awareness and support greater access to COVID-19 testing and care among vulnerable populations facing protracted conflict humanitarian and emergencies, Dr. Matshidiso MOETI, Regional Director for Africa at World Health Organization.
Regarding the coordinated regional support to COVID-19 response, the WHO has made joint coordination and technical team comprising Ministry of Health, Ethiopia Public Health Institute, World Health Organization has been deployed to the Gambella to bolster the COVID-19 response in the region in Dire Dawa.
WHO is providing technical support to the RHB to address the worsening internal displaced of people situation resulting from influx of displaced persons from the recent unrest in Oromia Region in East and West Harraghe.
Concerning the doing of laboratory assessment undertaken by WHO in Ethiopia, the WHO has supported the country wide sero-survey in both Hawassa and Arba Minch of Southern Nation, Nationalities Region where a total of 945 and 953 individuals were reached respectively.
WHO has supported the Southern nations, nationalities RHB in the development of an operational plan to expand COVID-19 testing capacity in the region. WHO continue to provide technical guidance to Addis Ababa City administration health bureau on lab testing for the surging of case World Health Organization has provided technical support to improve physical distancing and other prevention measures for arrivals in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
About points of entry and Quaratine facilities, WHO has supported the Dire Dawa RHB on creating a platform to share best practices on quarantine and isolation centers management. World Health Organization has conducted a water, sanitation and hygiene assessment at Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development quarantine center.
Ethiopia has revised the guidelines for persons entering the country with negative RT-PCR test; the revision indicates change from 72 hours to 5 days prior to arrival in country. The organization has supervised screening at Galafi border post, Afar Region.
WHO has provided technical support to Ethiopia Public Health Institute and with Ministry of Health to develop reference manual for WASH in triage, quarantine, isolation and treatment centers. Technical supported was provided to Ethiopia Public Health Institute in updating and refining the WASH training package.
Regarding infection prevention and control, and wash capacity, WHO has supported the WASH pillar to draft an article on travel restriction in Addis Ababa and its Effect to COVID-19 virus spread. World Health Organization has provided as well technical review of the newly drafted WASH Checklist for Geriatric centers.
WHO has provided technical support to Ethiopia Public Health Institute to finalize the guideline on Implementation of Home-based Isolation Care World Health Organization provided technical guidance on the conversion of public institutions including training, quarantine, centers to treatment centers for increasing number of COVID-19cases World Health Organization has conducted a rigorous WASH assessment at Eka Kotebe treatment center providing solutions for gaps observed.
A joint technical team from Ministry of Health, RHB, UNICEF, WHO, has been deployed to support Cholera outbreak response in West Omo zone, Southern nations, nationalities region. A joint scoping mission comprising World Health Organization, National Authorities and World Food Program visited the United Nations Field Hospital in Addis Ababa built by World Food Program with the aim of establishing the first Africa Regional Emergency Medical Team training center.
The World Health Organization Emergency Medical Teams Initiative assists organizations and member states to build capacity and strengthen health systems by coordinating the deployment of quality assured medical teams in emergencies.
The article is originally published at Greeska Afrika