• Canada donates 400,000 face masks, 4.4 mln USD to African CDC
ADDIS ABABA – The government of Canada has been deepening excellent and very strong engagement with Ethiopia on a range of issues, particularly on combating COVID-19, enhancing the productive safety net programs, and in supporting efforts with women entrepreneurship, Ambassador of Canada to Ethiopia disclosed.
Ambassador Antoine Chevrier told The Ethiopian Herald the bilateral relationship between the two countries is growing significantly on various perspectives. “As stated during the visit of our Prime Minister in February before COVID, the partnership between the two countries focused on the potentials for trade and investment.”
As to the Ambassador, the two countries are developing relationship from economic perspective, particularly in attracting more businesses and investors coming to Ethiopia. Moreover, “the relationship has now focused on development efforts and humanitarian needs; that it will be diversifying to add some more components,” Ambassador Antoine explained.
According to him, the donation of 400 thousand face masks for African Center of Disease Control (CDC) will be distributed depending on the needs and priorities of African countries. The support of such face masks helps to test, trace and protect the pandemic together at global level.
“We will continue conversation with the African Union, and the African CDC to see all the needs and to collaborate more. This is continental; of course, we are also working on support of Ethiopia’s effort in fighting COVID and its impact.”
Canada’s support for Ethiopia is not only from health perspective but also food security and economic components through the long standing partner of the productive safety net programs, the Ambassador stated. “We realized that Ethiopia’s testing level is increasing on daily basis; which indicates the authorities are tracking, testing and tracing, even more understanding where the situation is and what the needs are.”
As to Ambassador Antoine, it was important for the government to put in place some balance measures taken initially including the state of emergency along with the needs of people to continue their lives. This makes all feel comfortable; because if people stay at home, they can’t go to their work and market.
Of course, “We are more concerned about the increasing number of infections from time to time, even if the testing level is increasing as well.” Ambassador Antoine also clarified that the Ethiopian authorities are taking the pandemic seriously, particularly in testing and tracking more. Putting efforts and resources on that direction is a good step to make the number diminish drastically, he added.
Amira Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affair, African Union Commission, also told The Ethiopian Herald since global solidarity is important to fight COVID-19, the kind and financial donation of the government of Canada to the African Union and African CDC is more significant.
“On behalf of the African Union Commission and the African CDC, I received 400 thousand masks and 4.4 million USD from the government of Canada. There are also ongoing discussions between the government of Canada and the African CDC, in looking to other areas of collaborations.”
According to Amira, since COVID-19 is a pandemic, all of us need to come together in unity and supporting each other globally. Africa has already decided in fighting COVID-19 as one; but, we need the rest of the world to provide support to Africa especially in strengthening our health system and the capacity to fight COVID-19 as well as in support of medical supplies.
“Both the African Union and the African CDC are working very closely with Dr. Liya, Ethiopia’s Health Minister, and authorities of Public Health Institute,” she said adding, “there is a very good level of collaboration between the African CDC and the government of Ethiopia, and the whole countries of the African Union.”
The Ethiopian herald August 1,2020
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
