ACEWM/AAU Embarks on Provision of Support to COVID-19 Affected Communities in Addis Ababa
COVID 19 was declared by WHO as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005); and on March 11, 2020 a pandemic. Ethiopia has been classified as one of the priority countries at high risk of COVID-19 importation. On March 13, the first confirmed case in Ethiopia has been declared by the Ministry of Health (MoH). Accordingly, Ethiopia has activated its incident management system (IMS) under the national public health emergency operating centre (PHEOC).
As part of the national effort to the COVID-19 emergency response, Addis Ababa University is also embarked in different undertakings such as availing its infrastructure in different colleges and institutes as isolation center, providing catering and other logistics, and public awareness creation.
In response to Addis Ababa University’s call for provisions of emergency goods and sanitary products to support its efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, ACEWM has supplied emergency food items and sanitary products (hand-sanitizers) worth of 35,000USD. On May 2, 2020, Professor Tassew Woldehana, President of Addis Ababa University, along with ACEWM Director and Head of the Department of Chemistry has successfully delivered the items to Mr. Takele Uma, Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa City. Deputy Mayor Takele Uma and Professor Tassew Woldehana have publicly acknowledged ACEWM for its continuous support and engagement. Please refer to news covered by ETV#
Following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, the Government has declared a state of emergency which includes the closure of schools, avoidance of meetings, conferences and any form of gatherings that involve a large number of people.
ACEWM/AAU is implementing the directions given by the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to protect its students and staff from the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, posters/flyers intended to create awareness on preventive measures were displayed/posted at various visible locations in and around ACEWM office and the dormitories of regional students located at two of AAU’s campuses. Moreover, ACEWM has distributed hand sanitizers and face masks to staff and international students. Maximum effort is also exerted to make communications online.
In a further effort, ACEWEM has assigned one of its vehicles and a driver to attend international students at all times including emergencies. Moreover, ACEWM has also assigned a staff to international students to facilitate purchase of food items and other supplies once a week and to respond during any emergencies. Communication with representatives of international students is maintained through the Student Affairs Officer of the Center.