Saving Children’s Lives from Pneumonia (11/02/09)
U.S. Commemorates World Pneumonia Day in Ethiopia

On the first-ever World Pneumonia Day, the United States and countries around the world are observing November 2, 2009 as an opportunity to raise global awareness of pneumonia and reaffirm the commitment to save the lives of children. “A majority of child deaths can be prevented through vaccines, early diagnosis and proper treatment with antibiotics that cost less than a dollar,” said USAID Mission Director Thomas H. Staal. “Ensuring better health for the world's children is a gift we must deliver for it will be today’s children who will become tomorrow’s doctors, scientists, engineers and leaders.” On behalf of the American people, USAID is working with the Ethiopian Government and partners to improve child health and save children dying of preventable causes.  Our efforts are increasing coordination and scaling up known, effective child health interventions that can reach children to prevent or treat the most important causes of child death – pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea. (read more)  -- e-mail us your comments --

Partnership Improves Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Ethiopia (10/24/09)

Tangut, age 37, Tej-Atel community member, collecting water from one of the water development facilities.

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation on Saturday, October 24 announced the completion of several water facilities in Ethiopia, which provide safe drinking water to over 46,000 Ethiopians. The project -- executed under the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) initiative by the Millennium Water Alliance -- included the rehabilitation and construction of water systems and improved pit latrines fit with hand washing facilities.  To enhance the health impact of the project and to multiply the use of water, cattle troughs, public showers and clothes washing basins were also constructed.  Educational materials on hygiene were developed and distributed to schools and communities. (read more) -- e-mail us your comments --

New Program to Prevent Spread of HIV Among Mobile Populations (10/22/09)

Thomas H. Staal, USAID Mission Director speaking at the event.

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Save the Children USA, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), and the Federal Ministry of Health, in concert with local and international partners on Thursday, October 22 launched the TransACTION program, which aims to provide HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections prevention and care services for at risk mobile populations. The program officially started in May 2009 and will target the most at-risk populations in 120 towns, including commercial sex workers, at risk youth, truck drivers and communities along the identified transportation routes over a period of five years.  PEPFAR, through USAID, has allocated $40 million dollars for the program. (read more) -- e-mail us your comments -- 

USAID Unveils Impressive Results in HIV Care and Treatment (10/13/09)

(L-R) Dr. Carmela Abate, PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, Health Minister, Nancy Estes, Deputy USAID Mission Director, Bud Crandall, HCSP Chief of Party, and Haile Wubneh, HCSP, Deputy Chief of Party.

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On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 the HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program, funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), held its second annual review meeting.  In its first two years of operation, the USAID HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program has supported 500 health centers in Addis Ababa and the four regions of Amhara, Oromiya, SNNPR, and Tigray.  This support has provided antiretroviral therapy (ART) to more than 45,000 people.  Nearly 1.5 million people were counseled and tested for HIV in year two alone.  The program has enrolled more than 100,000 HIV-positive Ethiopians in chronic care and trained over 7,000 health care providers and 6,000 community members in HIV care and support services.  With these results, the program has surpassed many of its targets. (read more) -- e-mail us your comments --

U.S. Company Helps Orphanage Open School (10/13/09)

A photo of the Ketchene orphanage school taken after the removal of the trees.

U.S.-based B.L. Harbert International (BLHI), a construction company that is building the new U.S. Embassy Compound, helped to open a school at a local government–run orphanage.  Last year, a school was built on the compound of Kechene orphanage, but has not opened yet because of several trees surrounding the school, making the building unsafe.  BLHI generously covered the costs of cutting down the trees, and the school is expected to open by the end of the year.  Orphanage Director Sister Sophia said, “Opening the school on the orphanage compound will be much better for the younger children since they will not have to walk long distances to get to school.”  Thirty elementary school-aged children from the orphanage will attend the school.  -- e-mail us your comments --

HIV-Positive Mothers to Gain Silk Production Skills (10/07/09)

Welenchiti Administration Mayor Ato Asnake Alemu (L ) and USAID representative Catherine Hastings cutting ribbon at the launching ceremony.

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On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Family Health International (FHI) launched a program that will link HIV-positive mothers from community-based Mother’s Support Groups (MSG) with income generating opportunities in Welenchiti town. This unique program will improve the livelihoods of these mothers through commercial silk production - called the Silk Production and Innovation Network (SPIN). The program, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aims to enhance the economic security of AIDS-affected households by providing women with a valuable skill to produce and process raw silk. The initiative focuses on the heavily trafficked Addis Ababa-Djibouti transport corridor, whose highly mobile, poor population has a high HIV prevalence. (read more)  -- e-mail us your comments --

A candle lighting and unifying song for those suffering in illness were part of the ceremony.

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World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was celebrated on October 10, 2009 at the Black Lion Hospital under the annual theme “Discovering Your Voice.”  This event marks a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world.  The event brought together health policy makers, palliative and hospice care providers, people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families, as well as various government and non-governmental agencies.  This day aims at sharing the stakeholders’ vision to increase the availability of hospice and palliative care throughout Ethiopia by creating opportunities to speak out, as well as to  raise awareness and understanding of the needs – medical, social, psychological, spiritual – of people living with a life-limiting illness and their families.  (read more) -- e-mail us your comments --

2011 Diversity Visa Lottery Begins on October 2, 2009 (10/01/09)

(L-R) U.S. Embassy Spokesman Michael Gonzales, Consular Section Chief Abigail Rupp and Consular Officer Jeffrey Ladenson talking to journalists at the press roundtable held at the U.S. Embassy.

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American Embassy officials today announced the beginning of the 2011 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program application season.  Diversity Visa applications will be accepted from October 2 to November 30, 2009. Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. Paper entries will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon, EST, on November 30, 2009.  The annual DV program makes visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. Every DV lottery entrant must have at least a secondary school education or its equivalent or have, within the past five years, two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least three years' training or experience.  Applicants who do not meet the educational or work experience requirement will be disqualified. (read more) (useful info in Amharic) -- e-mail us your comments --

USAID Provides Over $80 Million to Support Quality Education (09/28/09)

Students gathered for photo after receiving school supplies.

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The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Monday September 28, 2009 announced support for six new education programs to improve quality education in Ethiopia.  The programs, worth over US $80 million over the next five years, will support on-going efforts to develop, and improve the quality of, Ethiopia’s educational system. The Ethiopian Minister of Education,  His Excellency Demeke Mekonnen, and USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director, Thomas H. Staal, delivered remarks at the event, which was held at Kotebe College of Teacher Education and followed the theme of “Partnership Striving for Quality Education.”  (read more) -- e-mail us your comments --