BY STAFF REPORTER
While the incidence of COVID-19 pandemic is not averted and it is still challenging the global community, vaccines are becoming the only alternative that can reduce the perceived risk of the virus and its harsh consequences because it helps to boost one’s immunity to the virus.
Having this in mind, countries are immunizing their people massively and urgently either through manufacturing the vaccines or purchasing from vaccine manufacturers.
Ethiopia as of other countries is struggling to get the vaccines and immunize its citizens. So far, as information gathered from the Ministry of Health shows, as of August 24, 2021, a total of 2,337,658 people were vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines gained from different donors.
Recently, the country has received 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the Chinese Government which adds significant impetus to nation’s COVID-19 control and mitigation efforts.
“Today, we have received the third batch donation of around 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which is going to really enhance our effort to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic as a country,” said Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse.
“This support and donations come at a very critical time where we need to really enhance our strategy of prevention in addition to our non-pharmaceutical interventions which is rolling out vaccines especially to those who need it the most,” she further said.
Dr. Lia also appreciated the Government of China for the comprehensive anti- COVID-19 support it has provided Ethiopia so far.
“The government of China has been really supporting the country’s efforts in mitigating the pandemic since the beginning of the pandemic in many ways, not only in vaccine support but also in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies, supply of test kits and technical support from the experiences they have had,” she remarked.
Mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Ethiopia’s education sector in multiple ways, Education Minister Getahun Mekuria commended the Chinese Government for providing the latest batch of COVID-19 vaccines, which will mainly be administered to those engaged in the education sector.
“During the last one year when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Ethiopia, one of the major sectors hit hard is the education sector. It’s not only the interruption of the education sector, but also we’ve lost a large number of our teachers,” he said.
“What makes me very happy today is that this vaccine which we are receiving from the Chinese Government is focused primarily for the education sector and I would like to say that I am representing all of my 700,000 teachers to say thank you very much,” he said.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan also said that the Asian country has so far provided about one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia. This support is one of the underscoring strong commitments of the Chinese Government to help the East African country’s health sector.
The one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines the Chinese Government has donated for Ethiopia have been widely used in health, defense and other fields, Zhao said.
“China is committed to deepening cooperation with Ethiopia on education and public health capacity, and tackling the challenge of the pandemic in solidarity with Ethiopia,” he further said.
Zhao also underlined the two countries’ health sector partnership as an example of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.
“As the comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Ethiopia, China will continue to help Ethiopia fight the virus through various channels and try our best to provide support,” Zhao remarked.
The COVID-19 vaccine doses were received at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan, Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse and Dr. Eng. Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia Minister of Education.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD AUGUST 26/ 2021
