Ethiopia News

Conflict, internal displacement, socio-economic hardships, collapse of public services (education, health, etc.), and natural hazards, including disease outbreaks, recurrent floods, locust outbreaks, and consecutive droughts, have increased the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia in 2023.

Her perpetually moist eyes radiated intense sorrow. She is reserved. She does not say much before returning to her continuous quiet. Senayit, a young mother of three children, will never forget the day her daughter Hanna was raped.

At dusk, Senayit had asked Hanna, who was just 13 years old, to get milk for her younger sisters, but she had no luck! She returned with a blood-stained cloth and a broken heart.

Ethiopia introduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 14-year-old in 2018 and COVID-19 vaccine in March 2021. Since then, HPV vaccination has been provided as two doses to girls aged 14 years with a six-month interval and the COVID-19 vaccine to all people aged 12 years and above.

Tigray region was not able to participate in the nationwide integrated HPV and COVID-19 vaccination campaign which was conducted few months ago due to competing priorities. Tigray region launched similar integrated COVID-19 and HPV the campaign on 15th August 2023.

Case study: Northern Ethiopia

Context:

On the 3rd and 4th of August 2023, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Ethiopia Country Office head Dr. Nonhlanhla Dlamini WHO representative a.i., and her team visited the Tigray region. The visit's objectives were to handover medical supplies, meet with the Regional Health Bureau Head, visit Ayder Hospital and to officially inaugurate the new WHO office premises and reaffirm continued support.

Upon arrival at the site, you will notice a sizable Cholera treatment center. The World Health Organization (WHO) has swiftly responded to the Cholera outbreak in the Konso Zone and Alle Special Woreda of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Region of Ethiopia by establishing Cholera Treatment Centers (CTCs) in four districts. These facilities act as referral centers where patients can receive urgent, high-quality medical attention to decrease the number of deaths resulting from cholera-related illnesses.