Ethiopia Expands Clean Water Access to 72 Million Citizens


Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy has announced a significant achievement in the nation’s efforts to provide clean drinking water, with more than 72 million citizens now having access to this essential resource.

A cornerstone was laid for a new clean drinking water project in the Mohor-Aklil district of Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia. This project, with a budget exceeding 57 million Birr, is set to benefit over 13,000 residents upon completion.

The initiative is part of the Horn of Africa Sustainable Groundwater Project, funded by the World Bank and coordinated by the Ministry of Water and Energy.

The official launch took place in the Mekorkor kebele of Mohor-Aklil district, marking a significant step towards addressing water scarcity in the region.

State Minister of Water and Energy, Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo, emphasized the project’s crucial role in addressing the local community’s drinking water challenges.

He highlighted that similar successful clean water projects are being imple
mented across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia under the Horn of Africa Groundwater Access Project.

The Minister also noted ongoing efforts to expand access to clean drinking water in both urban and rural areas through collaborations between the government and non-governmental development organizations.

Special attention is being given to water-scarce areas and surface water supply issues, with various projects supported by the government, World Bank, and African Development Bank.

According to the state minister, the national coverage of clean drinking water has now reached over 72 million citizens. He added that recently completed projects have further enhanced the country’s capacity to provide clean water.

The Central Ethiopia Regional Water, Irrigation, and Energy Development Bureau Head, Dawit Hailu, stressed the importance of completing the Mohor-Aklil district project with high responsibility, given the significant investment required for water infrastructure development.

He revealed plans to improve r
ural clean water coverage, which currently stands below 50 percent by focusing on completing ongoing water projects.

The official also announced an upcoming regional project in Qanqicho, with a budget of 130 million Birr, aimed at benefiting over 40,000 urban and rural citizens.

Chief Administrator of Gurage Zone, Lacha Garuma, , acknowledged the severe surface water shortage in Mohor-Aklil district and outlined collaborative efforts with the Ministry and NGOs to improve water supply in the area.

He also mentioned a 1 billion Birr project proposal to address water problems in Wolkite town using the “Bojebar” water source, which has received positive feedback from the federal government.

The event was attended by various officials, including Dr. Abraha Adugna, State Minister of Water and Energy, Motuma Mekassa, Advisor to the Minister, coordinators of the Horn of Africa Groundwater Access Project, federal and regional officials, and local residents.

This comprehensive water project is part of a larger ini
tiative by the Horn of Africa Sustainable Groundwater Project, which is currently constructing 110 clean drinking water projects with World Bank funding, demonstrating Ethiopia’s commitment to improving water access across the country.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

PM Abiy Inaugurates Renovated Mexico-Sar Bet Route as Part of Addis Corridor Dev’t


Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated tonight the newly renovated Mexico-Sar Bet route as part of the ongoing Addis Ababa corridor development endeavors.

‘Today, we reveal the second corridor area from Mexico to Sar Bet, marking a key milestone in our city-building efforts. Enhancing infrastructure, workmanship, walkways, and vehicle paths are essential to our urban growth,’ the premier posted on X.

The prime minister added that demolishing shanty parts of our towns is a necessary step for a better future for generations.

‘We must not grow comfortable with them. Sustaining our progress is critical as our city’s growth is just beginning. With our collective efforts, we can achieve a brighter future,’ Prime Minister Abiy stated.

Recall that the scope of Addis Ababa city corridor development encompasses revitalizing slum areas of the city, enhancing living conditions for residents, fulfilling infrastructure such as integrated drainage systems and utility infrastructure, expanding roads to ac
commodate rising traffic volumes, creating spacious pedestrian walkways, restoring heritage sites, and upgrading buildings to align with the city’s esthetic standards.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethio-Telecom, Addis Ababa University to Establish Smart Classrooms


Addis Ababa: Telecom and Addis Ababa University have signed partnership agreement to implement Smart Campus project by establishing smart classrooms and other cutting edge solutions vital to learning activities.

Ethio-Telecom CEO, Frehiwot Tamiru and acting President of the Addis Ababa University, Samuel Kifle signed the agreement.

The agreement aims at ensuring education quality and inclusiveness; it was indicated on the occasion.

Enhancing access to educational materials and improving the conduct of laboratory testing by establishing smart classrooms is also the objective of the agreement.

Additionally, exams are administered in the smart classrooms, and results are promptly made public.

Installations of various infrastructures vital to the project will be carried out as part of the agreement to ensure the security of the Addis Ababa University Sidist Kilo campus.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia Striving to Ensure Self-sufficiency in Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals


Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is focusing on being self-reliant in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, according to Ministry of Health.

The local medical inputs manufacturing and innovation exhibition recently opened by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Millennium Hall has demonstrated Ethiopia’s encouraging activities to become self-reliant in the production of medical equipment and supplies.

Health State Minister, Frehiwot Abebe told ENA that the ministry is focused on creating a healthy citizenry by engaging in preventive-based curative practices across the country.

The state minister, who said that efforts have been underway to increase the share of local supply of medicine and medical equipment, added that this would also be a big leap toward creating jobs and foreign currency.

According to her, focusing on the development and production of local products will not only ensure economic sovereignty of the country but also help to extricate the nation from dependency in the sector.

She revealed that various
activities are being carried out in this regard in line with the directives set by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

ShieldVax Enterprise, a vaccine producing enterprise, is under construction to locally produce vaccines and replace exported vaccines, Frehiwot further disclosed.

Moreover, actions geared towards ensuring sustained national development in the health sector, and measures supporting local producers in the sector by assisting them to produce quality materials that replace imported items would be strengthened, the state minister added.

She further said ScinticaMed, a medical manufacturing company, has started producing ultrasound machines demonstrating that the nation is actively involved in producing medical equipment.

Recall that Health Minister, Dr. Mekedes Daba stated that activities have been underway to upscale the share of local pharmaceutical industries with 47 percent in accordance with the mid-term plan for development and investment in the health sector.

Ethiopia has already developed a sy
stem of supply of medical inputs, health and pharmaceutical polices to enable the country to become self-sufficient in the sector over time, the minister added.

The nation has managed to locally produce medicine supplies worth 75 million USD this Ethiopian fiscal year, enabling the government to save 53.1 million USD.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

EU Donates 18 Vehicles to Ministry of Justice


Addis Ababa: The European Union has donated 18 vehicles for field work to the Ministry of Justice in an effort to improve the criminal justice system in Ethiopia.

European Union Deputy Head of Delegation to Ethiopia, David Krivanek handed over the keys to Justice Minister Gideon Timothewos today.

The 18 vehicles were purchased and delivered to Ministry of Justice in accordance with the agreement reached between the two parties to improve the criminal justice system in Ethiopia, it was learned.

It was noted on the occasion that the vehicles will be of great help in streamlining the field work carried out by the ministry to investigate the violation of human rights within the framework of the reform of Ethiopia’s criminal justice system.The handover ceremony was held in the presence of the project’s support staff and senior officials of the Ministry of Justice.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Deputy PM Expresses Government’s Strong Commitment to Substitute Import of Medical Supplies


Addis Ababa: Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said the local medical products manufacturing and innovation exhibition, held in Addis Ababa over the last six days, has promoted Ethiopia’s investment opportunities and the county’s potential in the sector.

Local Medical Products Manufacturing and Innovation Exhibition, opened by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the 22nd of June, was officially closed today in the presence of high ranking government officials and stakeholders in the sector.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Temesgen said the expo has demonstrated the commitment of the government to enhancing local manufacturing of medical products and ensure import substitution in the sector.

The expansion of local medical supplies products is vital to Ethiopia not only to free from the dependency of import products but also instrumental to enhancing the health of its citizens, he underlined.

The stride being demonstrated by the government to improving the national health system emanates from the country’s broad g
oals to create a healthy nation important to ensuring prosperity, Temesgen underscored.

According to him, Ethiopia was importing 92 percent of its medical supplies with significant foreign exchange up until last year.

However, Temesgen said the government has brought positive achievements following its measures with a view to increasing the share of local medical supply products which has now reached 36 percent. He also revealed that Ethiopia has been exporting medical products to 35 countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Ethiopia will soon become self-sufficient in medical supplies if it continues with the current pace to encourage local manufacturing.

He further stressed the need to give a great deal of attention to product quality and global acceptance noting the presence of conducive policies to encourage the sector and attract investment.

The exhibition, held under the theme “Our Health by Our Products,” with the objective to boost the local medical supplies manufacturing, has been visit
ed by over 100, 000 citizens during the past six days.

The exhibition has showcased Ethiopia’s healthcare investment opportunities as well as domestically produced medical products and services.

Some 107 manufacturers from the sector have participated in the exhibition, which also featured networking opportunities for investors, panel discussions, and other programs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency