The support provided today is laboratory equipment worth 9 million birr. The support is provided to six hospitals in the regions of Amhara and Afar, and it is a support to restore the laboratory units in six hospitals.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Lia Tadese, said that following the destruction of health facilities in the country, all hospitals in the regions affected have been brought back to work. Dr. Lia said that Ohio State University's Global One Health program is able to fully support hospital laboratories by paying attention to this problem. She also stated that they are strengthening technical support.
She recalled that the support is provided for the second time and in the first round, they provided support for laboratory equipment worth 6 million birr. Today, they announced the support of nine million birr.
She said that the support will help to fill the gap in the access and quality of health services and strengthen the health system in general.
Dr. Lia thanked the Ohio State University Global One Health Program for its support and the US CDC for its funding. She also called for the support to be strengthened.
Ohio State University's Global One Health Program Country Director, Dr. Eba Abate, said that health facilities are among facilities affected by the civil war in the country. The management of Ohio State University has discussed the problem and announced that it was able to provide support. In view of the scope of the problem, in addition to the 5.6 million birr in the first round, it has been possible to provide assistance worth 9 million birr today. The director said that they are able to support nine hospitals in total.
The Ohio State University's Global One Health program will also work on health system strengthening, capacity building, laboratory construction and expansion. He mentioned that new laboratories will be built in Adama, Bahrdar, Arbaminch and Addis Ababa. The director added that the institution is committed to working with the ministry and supporting the health sector.
Mr. Matthew C. Austin, CDC Ethiopia representative at the US Embassy; On his part, explained that the grants were made with the understanding that the community living in the area had problems accessing quality basic health care and services due to the impact of the conflict. He said that the CDC has been able to identify gaps in quality laboratory services and provide rapid response support. He stated that he will work with the Ministry of Health, Ohio State University and other partners to improve the provision of health services and resources in the affected Amhara and Afar regions and to continue to support the rehabilitation work.
Finally, Dr. Lia received the chemistry machine and other support from Dr. Eba Abate and Mr. Matthew C. Austin.