Day: June 25, 2024

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia and Italy have signed a 4.7 million euros grant agreement today to strengthen sexual gender-based violence and mental health psychosocial support services.

The implementing agreement is entitled ‘Strengthening of the SGBV (Sexual Gender Based Violence) and MHPSS (Mental Health Psychosocial Support) services in Ethiopia.’

It aims to strengthen the local system in the provision and expansion of quality, equitable and accessible gender-based violence and mental health psychosocial support services in conflict-affected three regions and in Addis Ababa.

Finance State Minister, Semereta Sewasew and Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Agostino Palese signed the agreement, according to Ministry of Finance.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is not only self-sufficient in animal vaccines but also earning foreign currency by exporting to 33 countries in the Middle East and Africa, according to the National Veterinary Institute (NVI).

NVI Vaccine Sales and Customer Service Team Leader, Debebe Shimekit told ENA that the institute has been producing animal vaccines and supplying them to both domestic and foreign markets since its establishment in 1964.

Today, it is one of the most well-known veterinary vaccine producing institutions in Africa with its multidisciplinary professional staff having long years of experience, he added.

The team leader pointed out that the institute has been playing a crucial role in safeguarding the health of livestock, which serve as a universal source of income for Ethiopian pastoralists and farmers.

According to him, the institute is focused on producing and marketing drugs to prevent diseases caused by bacteria and viruses in animals.

The National Veterinary Institute (NVI) produces and suppl
ies 23 types of vaccines for domestic animals, including chickens, camels, dogs, and cattle, among others.

Debebe disclosed that the institute has exported 41.5 million doses of animal vaccines and supplied 292 million doses domestically in the past 11 months alone.

Ethiopia has not imported animal vaccination drugs for several years, effectively reducing foreign exchange expenditures, the team leader stated.

The NVI exports vaccines to countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman as well as Chad, South Sudan and other African nations with large livestock populations, it was learned.

Debebe further revealed that Ethiopia is the first country in Africa to establish an institution capable of producing essential medicines for animal vaccination.

The 60-year institute has the capacity to produce 350 million doses of vaccines annually.

The NVI actively engages in identifying livestock disease problems and seeks solutions through the development and promotion of research products. This approach aims to allevi
ate livestock diseases while safeguarding animal welfare and the environment.

Typically, the institute collaborates closely with national veterinary service delivery institutions as a stakeholder in the field.

It also partners with national and international institutes on various activities such as vaccine development and enhancement, vaccine production, pathogen identification and characterization, and technology transfer related to these areas.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Agriculture Minister Girma Amente stated that by continuing the success registered in the agricultural sector, emphasis is being placed on getting rid of aid dependency.

Ethiopia has abundant resources across all its corners and various sectors, he noted.

“Our inability to translate these blessings into tangible development has, however, kept us from progress and be dependent on aid,” the minster noted.

According to him, we have to develop the blessings we have and move from efficiency to productivity.

Girma explained that the ongoing national reform prioritizes various works, especially in agriculture sector, with the view to positioning Ethiopia as a symbol of prosperity.

In this regard, many gains have been registered in the sector, laying the foundation for tackling dependence in agriculture.

The minister further stated that the initiatives implemented in recent years have demonstrated that Ethiopia can ensure its food sovereignty with its potential natural resources and other capabilit
ies.

He emphasized the potential for Ethiopia’s abundant resources to drive the nation from poverty to productivity, and stressed the importance of collaboration in achieving this goal.

Efforts to increase productivity across all sectors, aiming to eliminate dependency and achieve national goals have been intensified, according to Girma.

The minister concluded by calling for a shift in mindset, emphasizing that ensuring food security at the family level and ending dependency are the hallmarks of true patriotism in these times.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Currency Exchange Fund (TCX) Senior Vice President, Isabelle Lessedjina, has commended Ethiopian Airlines as one of the premier airlines in the world.

The senior vice president, who frequently travels with Ethiopian Airlines, told the Ethiopian News Agency that Ethiopian Airlines provides the best connectivity within Africa and for the rest of the world.

The senior leader in the TCX that is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, said that she consistently chooses Ethiopian Airlines for her travels.

She praised the airline for its exceptional service, extensive connectivity, and commitment to excellence, highlighting it as a standout example in the aviation industry.

“It is always a pleasure to see a company that represents the epitome of best practices and demonstrates what Africa can achieve when it excels,” the senior vice president added.

According to her, the airline is one of the best in the world and it is clearly not just an African champion but a global one.

”We hope that there will be a
nother champion in sectors like Ethiopian Airlines that can showcase the greatness of our continent,” she said.

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline, has recently won the Best Entertainment in Africa Award and Best Wi-Fi in Africa for another consecutive year at the APEX Passenger Choice Awards 2024.

The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) prestigious regional awards are voted by millions of global passengers to honor airlines from Africa, Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East for exceptional passenger experiences in Cabin Service, Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Seat Comfort, and Wi-Fi.

Ethiopian Airlines has previously received numerous prestigious industry awards from Business Traveler Awards to APEX and to SKYTRAX, the latter for six years in a row, it was learned.

In its seventy-eight years of successful operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s sh
are of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency