As Ethiopia continues to see the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increasing day by day, the implementation of the five moth long state of emergency has become an issue of scrutiny.
Recently, there have been different reactions on its enforcement with some indicating loose and other claiming excessive use of forces; members of State of Emergency (SoE) Inquiry Board have been conducting various field inspections.
Their visits are part of their establishment to follow up and report on the handling of SoE, declared to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Lately, the Board members observed institutions, quarantine centers, hospitals, police stations, bus terminals/stations, and lowest government levels in the capital Addis Ababa. The members also held discussions with the concerning executive bodies.
Their next stop has been Oromia regional state – Bishoftu, Modjo, Dukem, Adama, Sendafa Beke – and in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regional state – Hawassa, Halaba, Kembata Tembaro, Hawassa Industry Park, and other zonal administrations and special woredas in the region, according to the report of House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The Board paid a visit to Bishoftu town administration related to COVID-19 crisis awareness rising and prevention activities and its effort to reduce the risk of exposure to the disease.
During the supervision, Board’s Deputy Chairperson and leader of the supervision, Tesfaye Daba appreciated task force’s activities – house-to-house awareness rising efforts; coordination with religious leaders, youth and investors and the ability to work closely with town administration.
He also hailed the town’s investors and youth for offering their support in the fight against the pandemic. The contribution of volunteers truly enhances the quality of life we all enjoy, he said, adding, “Volunteers play a significant role in our community. There are many great ways you can get involved in community services.”
The Board urged that the focus should be on raising awareness as the surveys indicate that the virus will emerged gradually in the next two months. For their part, officials of the town administration said they would take the recommendations of the Inquiry Board and apply them.
The Board also visited Modjo town to inspect the anti-COVID-19 fight and enforcement of the State of Emergency. Tesfaye appreciated all the good works performed by the task-force in Modjo town. Yet, regarding the scarcity of PPE for health professionals, he advised the TaskForce to deal with the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Secretariat Task-Force of Ministers to solve the need.
He said that the Task-Force of the town needs to raise the awareness of residents to use face masks, which according to observation has the town failed to do so.
He also pushed them to negotiate with private schools to make them cut-off some amount of fees that they collect from students’ parents and guardians. The task-force admitted its shortcomings.
The Board also discussed with the task-force of Dukem Town Administration which established to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.
During the discussion, Tesfaye pointed out that lack of awareness, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to health care workers, lack of proper distribution of essentials to less fortunate communities, and other remain major challenge in the fight against the virus.
Members of the town taskforce, for their part, said they will take the recommendations stated by the inquiry board as part of their plan.
Petros Woldesenbet, Chairperson of the Board and leader of the supervision, in its visit in SNNP region, urged the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Task-Force of the region to remain intact in its fight waged against the deadly pandemic of Corona virus.
He also appreciated all the good endeavors by the region’s concerned bodies and also urged
The Board urged the Halaba and Kembata Tembaro zonal administrations of SNPP region to remain persistent in their fight against the spread of coronavirus that they already commenced.
The Board witnessed the two zones prepared their respective plans of action and formed-up task-forces before getting down to business.
It was revealed that delivery of the awareness raising lessons, resource mobilization, measuring temperature of people-in-movement around bus stations and exit-entrance areas along with isolation centers were executed properly and early, as it has been observed by the Board.
Petros appreciated the home-to-home examination for the COVID-19 and quarantining of the new comers from abroad, the efforts of the two zones in implanting the guidelines set by WHO and SoE.
He requested the two zones in-general and the task-forces in particular to sustain positive achievements in collaboration with all the concerned bodies to protect the people.
“Drivers and passengers shall use face masks. The motor-bicycles transporting two plus people shall get appropriate measures not to continue to do so,” he said adding that isolation of newcomers from abroad, and integration of neighboring zonal administrations shall be strengthened,” he added.
The Ethiopian Herald May 29, 2020
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
