October 10, 2005

Ethiopia News

Back to News Menu
Get the Archives Here

Public Support 46 AIDS Orphans

MoH Signs Code of Ethics with 12 International Donor Organizations

Education on Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS Given to over 1 Million People

NGO Calls for Joining Forces to Rehabilitate HIV/AIDS Orphans

City HAPCO Council Holds Final Conference

Hospital Begins Distributing Anti-Retroviral Drugs

HAPCO Provides Money, Bedclothes for 53 PLWHA

Society, Local Entrepreneurs Need To Assist AIDS Orphans: Manager

150 VCT Centers Go Operational in SNNPS

MoH Says Partnership Essential in Avoiding RH Problems

EOC Establishes Two VCT Centers

Anti HIV/AIDS Media Forum Founded

Office Says PLWHAs Can Get Access to ARVs

Public Support 46 AIDS Orphans

WOLDIYA (ENA), October 09, 2005—Two kebeles in Woldiya town have provided financial and clothing support for 46 AIDS orphans. Public relations expert with town's information office, Agere Debebe told ENA Friday that the kebeles provided the support by coordinating Idirs and other philanthropists. School uniforms and educational materials were distributed to the orphans, while some 26 of the orphans have obtained 60 birr each, the expert said.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday 09 October 2005, Page 2

MoH Signs Code of Ethics with 12 International Donor Organizations

ADAMA (ENA), October 08, 2005—The Ministry of Health (MoH) and 12 international donor organizations signed here on Friday a code of ethics aimed at successfully implementing the health sector development programs. The code of ethics signed in Adama town, Oromia State, includes 11 points.

Full Story: http://www.ena.gov.et/default.asp?CatId=9&NewsId=184441

Education on Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS Given to over 1 Million People

ADAMA (WIC), October 08, 2005—Education focusing on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS has reportedly been given to more than one million people in Oromia and SNNP States by an organization called Intrahealth International, it was disclosed.

Full Story: http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2005/oct/08Oct05/Oct08e8.htm

NGO Calls for Joining Forces to Rehabilitate HIV/AIDS Orphans

ADDIS ABABA (ENA), October 08, 2005—Merry Joy, an indigenous NGO, has urged the business community, artists, athletes and Ethiopians at large to join forces to hammer out ways in which HIV/AIDS affected children could be cared and supported in a sustainable manner. Organization manager, Sister Zebider Zewdie said that providing care and support to AIDS orphans in a sustained way should not be left to humanitarian and executive organizations alone. She was speaking at a programme organized here Thursday to facilitate ways to rehabilitate AIDS orphans in a sustained manner. She said the business community, artists, athletes and Ethiopian should work in unison to identify actions that would enable help the children. Ethiopians need to join hands to care for children affected by HIV/AIDS instead of waiting for foreign aid, Zebider said. There is plan to hold consultative meeting on poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS from November 10-14, 2005 Exhibition Center which would bring together civil servants, diplomats, and other authorities, according to Zebider. Deputy Chairperson of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, Solomon Afework, on the occasion also urged the public at large to exert concerted effort in recognition of the problem. Solomon said local investors and civic associations should play enormous role in supplementing the cause of the organization. Merry Joy is currently providing care and support to about 16,000 children. Artists, journalists, business community, and athletes who participated in the programme have pledged to provide scholarships, financial and material support. Vocalists present on the occasion also vowed to hold fund-raises. Meanwhile, some 22 business persons and artists received 145 orphans from the Mary Joy relief organization to sustainable support and nurture them. Mary Joy manager Sister Zebider Zewde said as the aid from foreign donors is reliable, local business persons should take part in rehabilitating the orphans. The organization has also designed various strategies aimed at rehabilitating the children in a sustainable manner. Speaking at the occasion, some of the business persons appreciated efforts of the organization and urged other investors to join hands in such efforts. They also pledged to provide the necessary support in the future. Some of the orphans glorified the efforts of the business persons and artists as it is more sustainable than aid being provided by foreign donors. They called upon other Ethiopians to assist orphans in various aspects.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Saturday 08 October 2005, Page 6

City HAPCO Council Holds Final Conference

ADDIS ABABA (ENA), October 07, 2005—The Addis Ababa HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (HAPCO) Council held its concluding conference on Friday. Certificates were given for individuals and organizations contributed for the anti HIV/AIDS efforts. Head of the Addis Ababa health bureau, Dr. Eyob Kamil has given briefings on the HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities carried out over the past two and half years

Full Story: http://www.ena.gov.et/default.asp?CatId=9&NewsId=184385

Hospital Begins Distributing Anti-Retroviral Drugs

AMBO (ENA), October 07, 2005—The Ambo hospital in West Shoa Zone of Oromia State says it has begun distributing Anti-Retroviral Drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS Virus since last week. Head of Anti-Retroviral Drug Section with the hospital, Dr. Alemayehu Girma told ENA that the drugs were being distributed through four trained health professionals in the hospital. Dr. Alemayehu said the antiretroviral drugs, obtained from the Global Fund, have so far been distributed to over 130 people free of charge. The hospital is the only institution providing HIV/AIDS blood test and counseling service in the zone, the head said.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Friday 07 October 2005, Page 6

HAPCO Provides Money, Bedclothes for 53 PLWHA

SODO (ENA), October 06, 2005—The Wolaita Zone HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) said it has supplied blankets, shuts and money for 53 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in seven woredas of the zone. Office Head Azmach Bergene told ENA that the office has provided blankets, sheets purchased with the money occurred from Global Fund. Similarly, the office has provided 100 birr each for 18 members of 'Hidota', an association of PLWHAs, the head said. Moreover, the Wolaita Sodo Hospital has been providing Anti Retroviral (ARV) drugs for 68 PLWHA, Azmach said. Meanwhile, some 236 of the 2,800 people who underwent Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) at nine VCT centers during the past year were found HIV positive.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Thursday 06 October 2005, Page 6

Society, Local Entrepreneurs Need To Assist AIDS Orphans: Manager

ADDIS ABABA (ENA), October 04, 2005—Manager of Merry Joy said the society and local entrepreneurs need to assist AIDS orphans rather than expecting aid from foreign donors. The Manager, Sister Zebideru Zewde told ENA on Tuesday that the society at large have the moral responsibility to support AIDS orphans

Full Story: http://www.ena.gov.et/default.asp?CatId=9&NewsId=184071

150 VCT Centers Go Operational in SNNPS

AWASSA (ENA), October 06, 2005—Some 150 Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers are now functional in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples States. According to a report presented at the 11th regular meeting of the State Council, the VCT centers have been established in 104 woredas in an effort to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS. The number of people visiting VCT centers to know their HIV status is growing, the report said, adding that about 40,000 people had visited the centers over the previous budget year. The state government, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, had made operational 39 VCT centers in the previous budget year. According to the report, the number of people who visited VCT centers in the period reported showed an increase of 13,000 people in the number of people from the year 1996 E.C. About 3,000 people (7.5 percent) had been tested positive from about 40,000 people visited the centers in the reported period, the report indicated. Some 11 health institutions are providing service to prevent mother to child transmission of the virus.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Thursday 06 October 2005, Page 2

MoH Says Partnership Essential in Avoiding RH Problems

ADDIS ABABA (WIC), October 04, 2005—The Ministry of Health (MoH) said partnership with continental and international organizations is crucial for the success of the fight launched against problems related with Reproductive Health (RH).

Full Story: http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2005/oct/04Oct05/Oct04e3.htm

EOC Establishes Two VCT Centers

BAHIR DAR (ENA), October 04, 2005—The west Gojam Diessie of the Ethiopia Orthodox Church (EOC) said it has established two voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in Bahir Dar town. Disease HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project Coordinator Demeke Tamene told ENA that the church has begun providing VCT service to arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic in the town. Over 150 people have been undergoing VCT at the newly established centers every month, Demeke said. Moreover, he said 49 religious leaders and Sunday school students, who attended peer education, are offering anti-HIV/AIDS education for the public. Similarly, 32 Sunday school students have been providing house-to-house care for 60 AIDS patients, the Coordinator added. In connection with the New Year, the church has distributed over 18,000 fliers focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention, he said.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Tuesday 04 October 2005, Page 2

Anti HIV/AIDS Media Forum Founded

ADDIS ABABA (ENA), October 04, 2005—HIV/AIDS prevention and control office head has urged mass media professionals to discharge responsibility diligently to help HIV/AIDS intervention activities launched by the government and the public. Speaking at the founding of Anti HIV/AIDS media forum here yesterday Nigatu Mereke said the mass media plays enormous role to realize HIV/AIDS intervention activities envisaged. He said policy, community mobilization strategy and other documents put in place to battle the scourge should be implemented smoothly. The mass media should be more committed than ever by mainstreaming HIV/AIDS intervention activities, he said. Representative of the Ministry of Information, Getachew Zeru said various capacity building and sensitization activities have been carried out through governmental and non-governmental organizations to help mass media play their conspicuous role in the fight against the epidemic. He emphasized the role of the media in triggering community mobilization to combat the disease. He also stressed the significance of the forum to fill the rift noticeable in mass media. The Ministry of Information would make its level best to enable mass media professionals play their due role in the fight against the scourge, he said. Representative of the Ministry of Information Getachew Zeru said various capacity building and sensitization activities have been carried out through governmental and non-governmental organization to help mass media play their conspicuous role in the fight against the epidemic. He emphasized the role of the media in triggering community mobilization to combat the disease. He also stressed the significance of the forum to fill the right noticeable in mass media. The Ministry of Information would make its level best to enable mass media professionals play their due role in the fight against the scourge, he said. UNDP deputy resident representative, Tomoko Nishimoto said the government, civic associations and other stakeholders have deployed efforts to combat the disease. The efforts should be reinforced particularly with the profession of journalism, she said, adding such experiences have been proved effective in countries where implemented. Anti-HIV/AIDS media forum is part of the national forum. The central objective of the forum is to fight discrimination, gender inequity, silence and other undesirable issues concerning the epidemic. The forum also works to help members of the forum and other media professionals get authentic and up-to-date information, forum secretary, Asfaw Haile-Giorgis said.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Tuesday 04 October 2005, Page 2

Office Says PLWHAs Can Get Access to ARVs

ADDIS ABABA (ENA), October 04, 2005—The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office said it was decided that any person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) can get anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) at a health institution where he/she diagnosed as HIV-positive. The Office has been supplying ARVs to PLWHAs in 56 health institutions excluding privately owned ones, it said. The Office said the drugs will also be distributed to the people living with the virus in 40 additional health institutions raising the number of health centers to over 90. ARVs are being supplied to PLWHAs soon after the official announcement made by President Girma Wolde Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 1997 E.C. that the drugs would be given to PLWHAs free of charge, according to the Office. Activities have been launched to raise the number of beneficiaries of ARVs to 100,000 soon, it said. Treatment of HIV/AIDS began in Ethiopia August 1995 and has been provided in 58 hospitals in the country, the office said. Individual ARVs consumption which used to cost from 2,500-3,000 birr to 240 birr due to lifting of tax and negotiation made between the government and various companies, it said. More than 24,000 PLWHAs have become beneficiaries of ARVs, the office said.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald, Tuesday 04 October 2005, Page 6