Since Ethiopia detected the first confirmed coronavirus case in the capital, the government has been taking wide ranging preventive and containment measures which included suspension of flights, closure of land boarders and schools, banning public gatherings and sporting events as well as a two weeks mandatory quarantine in order minimize the spread of COVID-19.
As the pandemic demands the swift response of the government and the untiring commitment of all, the Ethiopian civic societies are showing high solidarity and readiness to work along with the government and discharge their societal responsibilities accordingly. According to Dr. Nigussu Legesse, Executive Director of The Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA), this is high time and unprecedented challenges that countries’ across the world face from COVID-19.
The impact of the virus on people all over the nation continues to grow. However, the strain on developing countries is extreme. And the effort exerted to curb the spread of the pandemic and mitigate its harsh consequence, requires full determination and firm action beyond words. In this regard, the Consortium is working in proactive fashion through delivering hand washing and sanitation materials, equipping health facilities with the necessary inputs because the virus poses danger to humanity as whole. The CCRDA is also implementing the guidelines set by the WHO to control the spread of the virus in proactive manner and protect each member of the human power in the organization, he added. According to him, CCRDA is working under the whole civic society’s umbrella and with the government to reach out the communities in the local and surrounding area of the nation just by framing relevant communication strategies. “Unquestionably, COVID-19 causes an unprecedented impact on the health, economy and well-being of people living in the parts of the nation.
Thus, we should join hands with the government and work together in a bid to help control the coronavirus pandemic and protect the country from its hard-hit.” The Consortium is also working in c o l l a b o r a t i o n with the National R e s o u r c e M o b i l i z a t i o n Committee tasked to coordinating efforts of gathering financial and nonfinancial materials for COVID-19. Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Birhan Asrat, Executive Director of the Civic Societies’ Forum said that the Forum has members exceeds to over one thousand five hundred engaged in executing different activities to protect the communities from the COVID-19. Organizations at their respective areas will be involved in delivering necessary information from reliable sources.
At the same time the organization will take action to ensure supply chain continuity to deliver urgently needed assistance and mitigate to the extent possible the operational constraints. Due attention will be given to protect, assist and advocate for refugees, Internal Displaced Peoples (IDPs), migrants and host communities particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. Ethiopia Public Health Association Executive Director Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen on his part said that though, the deep-rooted cultural norms of the communities, such as handshaking and the strong social ties challenge the key prevention methods, the Association is working to aware the public through disseminating the directions and guidelines delivered by the government, the Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. What is more, the Association will keep on and is ready to take part in areas that are essential to combat the contagion, he remarked.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Ethiopian Herald April 8/2020
