Living in a clean, healthy, safe and comfortable environment has a number of rewards and is vital for the overall health, physical and mental well-being of individual citizens aside from producing wide-ranging social, economic and environmental gains.
It is clear that proper sanitation and hygiene practices have a number of benefits such as maintaining good health, becoming productive and boosting safety and dignity. As a result, working to ensure cleanliness takes the epicenter in human activity.
According to health professionals, hygiene interventions implemented with 99 percent coverage would reduce diarrhea incidence by 30 percent, which would in turn lead to a 2.5 percent decrease in stunting. Investment of 3.35 USD on hand hygiene, 11 USD on latrine, 200 USD on water construction and many thousands USD on vaccines have equivalent health outcomes.
Taking that into account, these days, countries are taking various initiatives to develop and create clean and healthy cities that are more attractive, comfortable for all to lead a healthy lifestyle and experience an elevated quality of life.
Ethiopia is also flexing muscle to actualize this dream, creating a vibrant, clean and attractive city through employing various projects that could help it to qualify the set standards.
Lately, a nationwide ‘Clean Ethiopia Initiative’ was launched with the aim to promote a cleaner environment and healthier lifestyle for citizens as well as transform the appearances of cities in Ethiopia through expanding public sanitation infrastructure, promoting modern, hygienic, and inclusive restroom facilities across the nation’s urban landscape.
The Initiative, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated, plans to construct modern, clean, and dignified public restrooms, with an active involvement of the people living at home and the Diaspora community.
“As we embark on this new initiative, I call upon all Ethiopians to contribute their share in creating cities that are conducive for everyone,” the Premier wrote on his social media.”
According to a press release from the PM Office and issued via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over the past six years, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has spearheaded transformative efforts to ensure that Ethiopia’s cities are clean, green, and conducive to residents’ well-being.
Building on this momentum, Prime Minister Abiy has directed efforts towards cleaning and revitalizing the main corridors of the city. Currently, development activities are underway in five key corridors, with a focus on modernizing public amenities and enhancing overall urban livability,
according to the statement.
The initiative, named ‘Clean Ethiopia,’ includes a fundraising component under the theme ‘Clean Cities – Healthy Lives,’ aiming to solicit both cash and in-kind contributions for the construction of these public facilities. To showcase this initiative, a prototype has been constructed and prominently displayed within the city, providing a tangible example of the modern and dignified public toilets that will be implemented in the identified corridors.
The purpose of this initiative is threefold: Firstly, the construction of modern public toilets in the identified corridors aimed at enhancing accessibility and fostering cleanliness within Ethiopia’s urban landscape. Secondly, by promoting a culture of dignified toilet usage and raising awareness about cleanliness, this initiative strives to elevate hygiene standards across the city and nation. Thirdly, on a broader scale, the initiative underscores the essential connection between urban sanitation and public health, serving as an educational platform to advocate for improved hygiene practices and overall well-being, the news release stated.
The statement goes on to say that Prime Minister Abiy’s unwavering commitment to urban sanitation underscores his vision for a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant urban landscape, reflecting a collective aspiration for a better quality of life for all residents.
To make the initiative a success, a public mobilization program- a digital telethon participation movement – was launched nationwide.
Following the call, Ethiopian expats residing in the United States have provided in-kind and financial contributions to the ‘Clean Ethiopia’ initiative, according to the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to the media, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States, Seleshi Bekele, in a virtual meeting held with members of the Diaspora community, has appreciated the great contributions they are making to the development of their home country.
“‘Clean Ethiopia movement aims at giving Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia as well as the political capital of Africa, a green and clean facelift. Thus, it is worth supporting,” he added.
He also urged the Ethiopian Diaspora and second-generation expats in the USA to support the initiative.
In fact, as the initiative is very beneficial and is worth supporting, it attracted a number of Ethiopians who are residing in the country and abroad including athletes, artists, investors, private and government organizations among others as well as foreigners living in the capital Addis Ababa. This was also testified at a fundraising program; a digital telethon program organized to collect 50 million birr and gained much more than the set target. As it was announced by the Office of the Prime Minister, 154 million and 500 thousand Birr has been collected through the digital telethon program in 10 hours.
While speaking in relation to the fundraising program and the support gained, Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat, Billene Seyoum said that 154 million 500 thousand Birr was collected in the digital telethon.
She said that 67.5 million Birr was collected directly from the community through the telethon. The Ethiopia Commercial Bank has donated 23 million Birr in accordance with the promises it made to add one million Birr to the 3 Birr each citizen contributes. In addition, the employees of MIDROC Investment Group; and companies under it, donated 64 million Birr. She also extended gratitude for the 40,533 people who took action in supporting the initiative.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald Temesegen Takele, a resident of Addis Ababa Arat Kilo Sub City shared his insight regarding the Initiative. According to him, the initiative is an intriguing and timely move to bring about change and transform the features of the city. “I believe realizing the initiative plays a vital role in ensuring a clean and attractive city. Moreover, it helps to attract businesses and tourists, as well as investment which ultimately contribute to boost local job creation capacity.”
The Initiative is commendable and it could yield meaningful impacts in ensuring decent residential areas. It can also bring communities together to create a clean and safe environment. It will also allow citizens to stand in unison to keep their environment clean. “I am sure through united endeavor; citizens sustain efforts and can address the problems related to hygiene and sanitation practices thereby preventing disease outbreaks and keeping children healthy,” he opined.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 14 MAY 2024
