BY STAFF REPORTER
Following the peace agreement reached between the Ethiopian Government and TPLF, the efforts exerted to rehabilitate conflict affected areas are ongoing in a more organized and concerted manner than before, by its own resources and in cooperation with development partners.
Concurrent to delivering humanitarian supplies and medical supplies to the communities affected by the war, the restoration and rehabilitation activities of basic service rendering institutions are well underway.
For instance, basic service providing institutions such as education, health, electric and financial institutions which were damaged owing to the war have now started providing services. Likewise, air flights to war torn areas have resumed and banking services in Tigray have started.
Since recently, the National Bank of Ethiopia has begun sending five billion Birr to Mekelle to be dispensed to customers. Concurrent to the government’s massive rehabilitation and restoration efforts, partners are also taking part and supporting government’s endeavors.
Recently, following the damage caused by the conflict, a project worth eight million USD was launched to help improve maternal and child health services in conflict-ridden areas. As the Ministry of Health reported, subsequent to the conflict occurring in the northern part of the country, a wide ranging damage has occurred in health institutions and has brought about enormous impact to the health system.
However, the Ministry, joining hands with development partners, has been working aggressively and executing various activities to restore the health facilities to enable them restart their former services.
According to Meseret Zelalem, Lead Executive Officer of Maternal and Child and Adolescent Health Service with the Ministry, the damage caused by the war was high. Considering the seriousness of the issue, therefore, several works are carried out to restore the institutions to their previous level of service.
As part of this, the three UN agencies, namely UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health, have designed a project that can be implemented in areas affected by conflicts. The project is designed with new ideas to improve the health services with the financial assistance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Director added.
According to her, for the implementation of the project, eight million USD was gained from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and it will be used to support a total of 12 hospitals, 24 health centers, 48 health posts and 6 mobile health teams located in war affected regions. The project will support the institutions to provide better health services to communities residing in the affected areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Paul Mainuka, Director of Maternal, Child and Nutrition at World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia, said that UN agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA WHO) will continue supporting the provision of post-conflict health services to support integrated health services for women, youth and children.
According to Dr. Paul, the aim of the project is to support the implementation and coordination of maternal and child health services and health systems in conflict-affected areas in Ethiopia. The investment will contribute a lot in terms of streamlining coordination across the three UN agencies, [UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO]. This in turn will allow to scale up the existing activities and enable to carry out effective innovations.
According to Dr. Paul, the project will be implemented for 18 months (from November 2022 to May 2024) in conflict-affected areas. Representative for UNFP Susan Mandong on her part said that her Office will strengthen health services and extend the necessary support to mobile health teams.
UNICEF representative, Mariko Kagoshima also said that the conflict has resulted in internal displacement on several people, caused security challenges and infrastructure destruction. Thus, the project will have significant contribution to solve some of the aforementioned problems.
The event was attended by representative from the Ministry of Health, heads of states’ health bureaus affected by the conflict, partner organizations, as well as a representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs announced that psychological and business skills training were given for women affected by the war.
As the Ministry stated, over 150 women residing in the north and south Wolo zones and faced with psychological, social and economic challenges due to the war, have received basic business skills training to enable them get relief from psychological traumas and to create employment opportunities.
According to Alemitu Umod, Women and Children Affairs State Minister with the Ministry, the Ministry is providing various support. And the training offered to the victims will have substantial benefit to the trainees to grasp the required basic skills and knowledge, engage in various income generating activities and generate their own income.
She stated that trainees are expected to use the knowledge and skills they get in the training and engage in various fields of work on their own, overcome problems and become a role model for others.
It is said that, aside from providing psychological, social and skills building trainings, trainees when they complete the training, will receive startup capital that enables them start their own business, and will be also provided with the necessary support from State’s and north and south Wollo zone women; children, and social affairs offices. To this end an agreement was signed among the Ministry, Amhara State Women, Children Social Affairs Bureau as well as North and South Wollo Zone Women, Children and Social Affairs Department.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2023
