Humanitarian Aid - Health Nexus on COVID-19 response in Ethiopia The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating. It took 67 days from reported case to reach the first 100K cases, 11 days to reach 200K cases but only just 4 days to surpass the 300k mark. These numbers matter! These are people, whose lives and families are seriously affected.1 The number of confirmed cases worldwide has exceeded 300,000 and many epidemiologists believe the real total of infections may be close to a million because testing and reporting are so incomplete.

Currently, 189 countries are affected with cases of COVID-19, with 334,984 confirmed cases in the world and 14,652 deaths.  Ethiopia has confirmed a total of 16 cases of COVID-19, since the confirmation of the first case on March 13th, 2020. The number of people who have had contact with confirmed cases is 319. 

The WHO has warned that COVID-19 could spread to countries with weaker health systems including sub-Saharan Africa – where poor sanitation facilities, the proliferation of the informal economy and urban crowding pose additional challenges in the efforts to combat the highly infectious disease.
062 million people in Ethiopia lack access to safe water and 97 million lack access to improved sanitation. According to a study conducted in 11 cities in Ethiopia, the number of citizens who live on the streets has reached around 88 thousand. The report also indicates that many of the homeless are found at provisional capitals. Out of the 88 thousand homeless population, children, women, youth and the elderly account for the majority.
Addis Ababa, home to one of Africa’s busiest international airline hubs, Ethiopia is bolstering preparedness to contain a potential outbreak of COVID-19. Health authorities are tightening up surveillance, diagnosis, epidemic response coordination and public health education to swiftly detect cases and limit widespread infections. Ethiopia is among 13 African countries the World Health Organization (WHO) considers as top priority for COVID-19 preparedness due to direct links or a high volume of travel to countries which are highly affected by Corona virus.

The Government of Ethiopia announced availing 5 billion birr (about $154 million) to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and to undertake preparedness tasks. Moreover, $52,000 Test kits , molecular detector for COVID-19 detection, 102,000 masks and 2 million RMB anti-epidemic supplies are donated to the Ethiopian ministry of public health institute.  

Around 60 rapid response team members, including from other regions of the country, have been trained on coronavirus preparedness. WHO has deployed technical experts in surveillance, point-of-entry management, infection prevention and control, public health communication and logistics to assist the Ethiopian government’s readiness to respond to COVID-19. WHO has also provided equipment and supplies, including reagents to test for corona virus. 

One isolation and two treatment centres with a total bed capacity of 109 have been established. The health workers at Bole Chefe rigorously follow the protocol for proper protection when handling patients suspected to have coronavirus. If a patient is confirmed to have the virus, they are transferred to the treatment centre for confirmed cases at Eko Kotebe Hospital. One treatment centre is designated for suspected cases and additional one for severe and critical cases. These centres are equipped with respirator machines. Long term Objectives: 

- To support the Regional Health Bureaus in ensuring adequate preparedness capacity to  prevent COVID-19 in targeted areas. 
- To improve the response preparedness and capacity of health facilities and COVID-19 isolation centers through provision of basic equipment and consumables required for management of (suspected) COVID-19 cases 

Short Term Objectives: 

- To increase community knowledge and awareness regarding COVID-19 through the distribution of COVID-19 Information-Education-Communication (IECs) materials in communities where Cordaid operates 
-  To contribute to prevention of  COVID-19 through distribution of hand washing soaps, sanitizers and surface disinfectants to community members and health facilities where Cordaid operates  
- Strengthen the preparedness capacity of the community and health facilities in Cordaid program operational areas to prevent the risk of Corona virus and quickly respond when occurred. Men and Women in Oromia and Somali Regional State:  

- Direct: 2,000,000 
- Indirect: 10,000,000 Men: 980,000 
- Women: 1,020,000 


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