Ethiopia seems to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak not only without an economically devastating lockdown but also handling the pandemic far better than expected.
Even though, the confirmed cases have reached 306 from over the 53,029 samples tested 113 people have recovered fast. Following that Ethiopian government has eased stay at home restrictions. It as well reopening some essential services with a caution that restrictions on large groups would remain in place for an unspecified duration.
Addis Ababa has rekindled some semblance of normalcy while some people still have chosen to stay in their houses more, to avoid the possibility of contracting the virus when going outside.
Even though it seemed hard to adopt changing the way people greet each other and defying the long-standing Ethiopian culture of dinning together and having a coffee ceremony, many people are practicing social distance and staying at home which seems the only strategy to win the fight against the coronavirus COVID -19.
The situation has brought a mixed blessing which offered the privilege of spending time at home and engaging in activities that people don’t use to have time before but also brought an abrupt change routine of a lifestyle which at first seemed a cause for stress and depression.
The way people spend the newfound time at home varies from watching movies and TV to reading books or learning new hobbies, exercising, developing new habits of self-development and participating in voluntary services, and so on.
Reading Books tops other choices for its numerous benefits. According to studies books have various advantages such as increasing creativity, improving memory, giving a new way to life and different perspective of life depending on its content. It can also help in lowering stress level.
Meet Andualem Yishak a self-made book vendor who started book door- to-door service for the first time in the city to address the demands of readers at a time when the threat of corona is looming large.
With his van packed with books Andualem navigates the city from corner to corner to deliver books and encourage people to read.
‘’I think it’s the right time to turn to books now more than ever, because people have plenty of time at home.’’
‘’When people see my mobile book shop van stuffed with books of various categories, they get so excited. You see it reminds them to read. People often stop me to buy books. Also, delivery service is going well, at this time where people can’t roam freely,’’ he said.
‘’The number of readers has increased. However, there is a lack of new books and
new writers. Most of the books I am selling now are republished. They are books that were released some years back,’’ He opined.
‘’I first started selling books carrying them in my arms five years back. I started with just 30 books. I remember being mocked by friends when I started going around carrying books in my arms. I bought the books for 1000 Birr from Jafar book wholesaler and used to get a 20 percent cut form each. Then I upgrade my vending into the lorry with about 120-130 books by saving money through ekub (Ethiopian traditional self-help financial cooperative) now I have various books and a capacity to deliver any kinds of books from old to new released ones.’’
Far before starting vending books and achieving this current success Andualem was on a brink of life and death being swallowed by a horrific life of addictions.
‘’I had so many addictions of khat, drugs, alcohol, and other bad habits, you name it. Four years ago, I went to a mental hospital for rehabilitation and mental treatment resulting from my severe addiction abuse.’’
Before entering to the horrific life
of addiction, Andualem has studied Theatrical Art and worked as a host in a podcast that encourages the youth in job creation and counselling service to help them get out of addictions on 90.7 FM radio. He also has published his first Amaharic poetry book titled ‘yeteferu helmoch’ ‘feard dreams’.
‘’I lived an awful life of an addict for about 14 years. I have wasted my youth in unwanted life tangled in many addictions. I was first admitted to Amanuel Mental Hospital, there I started treatment for months. The psychiatrists told me my problem has resulted from addiction. There I got treated for about a year and came out. However, I relapsed and resumed the dark life once again. I stayed in that grim life for years until I was admitted again with the help of family and friends.’’
Unfortunately, after I got in the second time I got treated for months to recover and relapse again and again (in and out) for years. Finally, everybody gave up on me and I fully indulged on it as my day job. I become a worse addict to alcohol, khat and drugs. I used to drink all night and even get used to sleeping on the street to a point I came face to face with death. At this point, all of my family and friends gave up on me. I hit rock bottom. I was on the verge of losing my mind. Then I came face to with the angel of death.’’
‘’That’s when eventually I decided to do something before it kills me. I realized I should live before I die, and dare myself to be different.’’
‘’Again I was admitted for the fourth time. There I seated with myself to do a lot of soul searching. I realized that I should face what is stopping me not to change.’’
‘’The first thing I realized was that what hurts more than being an addict is the character given by people around, once a person is profiled as an addict s/he is perceived as a foul under any circumstances. And that
could follow him /her wherever s/he goes .It could control and sabotage his/her mind no matter what good things s/he does and how to change that.’’
‘’The second and most important thing I came to release is that, in my previous attempts to get out of that life three to five times, I was doing it for a wrong reason which is to please others or earn some validation and acceptance from people, family friends or psychiatrists,’’ he marked.
Andualem has eventually able to defy relapsing and quitting patterns and managed to stay clean from his addictions for five years now by first admitting his weaknesses, correcting them step by step, and building a new character.
‘’I took my self out. All I did was made one decision and committed to that decision over and over again.’’
Andulem has never thought that his one decision and commitment could change his whole life forever. Starting from creating a job for himself with just 30 books to owning a mobile book shop car. The car was granted to him by The Mayor or Addis Ababa Eng.Takele Uma as part of encouraging and motivating the youth participating in job creation and goodwill.
‘’ I was in a full shock when one day while I was selling books as usual around the National Theatre, The Mayor of Addis Ababa Eng. Takele Uma who happens to show up that day in the area for a visit incidentally stopped to meet me and to ask about my job and then grant me a minibus van. Here I would like to get a chance to thank him from the bottom of my heart for his genuine heart to motivate the Addis Ababa youth.’’
‘’I advise the youth to think twice when it comes to addictions. Whatever they do they shouldn’t get into this horrific terrible life path of an addict. There is no good in it,’’ he remarked.
Andualem is currently looking forward to celebrating his fifth anniversary of five clean years from any addiction in late May.
‘’I know it’s not allowed.But, I wish I could provide books for those in quarantine,’’ added Andualem.
The Ethiopian Herald May 17/2020
BY FASICA BERHANE
