Rotary Clubs In Ethiopia Go Big In Fight Against Covid 19
PARTNERSHIPS BRING PPES TO 23 HOSPITALS
The Rotary Clubs in Ethiopia held a successful event on 10 June 2021, jointly organized by Rotary Ethiopia’s COVID19 Task Force and Rotary Club of Addis Abeba Arada, to hand over Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other items to 23 public hospitals in Addis Abeba and across Ethiopia. The equipment worth over 5 million birr (USD 112,500) will be distributed around the country where frontline health professionals are fighting against COVID 19.
The event was attended by all regional Rotary clubs and graced by Dr. Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health and an honorary member of Rotary. Speaking at the handover, Dr. Tadesse lauded Rotary Ethiopia for its valuable contribution of over 15 million birr (USD 22,500) worth of PPEs and life-saving equipment that were delivered to 29 health facilities over the past year.
The co-chair of the Task Force, PP Aster Zaoude, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its strong partnership and thanked all the local partners and the Rotary family around the world for their contributions. A special tribute was given to honor Rotarians who passed away due to COVID19.
In a bid to do bigger and more impactful projects, the rotary clubs were keen to embrace partnerships with other philanthropic organizations by forming a RE Covid task force. The Bank of Abyssinia (BOA) was able to contribute a generous 1million birr to this cause for the local production of PPE and other materials that were delivered to 15 hospitals around the country. This equipment included 1000 scrubs, 466 sanitizers, 800 pairs of heavy-duty gloves, 400 rubber boots, and 315 bottles of liquid soap. As a sign of appreciation Past District 9212, Governor Teshome Kebede presented a plaque to BOA’s Marketing Director Elsabet Worku who represented the institution.
Additionally, RC Addis Abeba Arada, Ethiopia was able to raise a total of 193,000 USD in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bonn International in Germany, the Merck Family Foundation, District 1810, and the Rotary Foundation. This further enabled the purchase and delivery of 3470 sets of scrubs, 2700 pairs of doctors’ shoes, and 120 pieces of biohazard dust bins that were handed over to 8 public hospitals across Ethiopia including Black Lion Hospital and St Paul Hospital in Addis Ababa.
Chairperson of Rotary Ethiopia and the Co-Chairperson of Rotary Ethiopia Covid Task Force team PP Aster Zewoude.
Rotary Ethiopia has made it a high priority to protect and honor frontline healthcare heroes, and provide life-saving equipment to COVID 19 treatment centers.
The event ended with a call for continued support to the efforts of the Ministry of Health in combatting COVID 19.
