U.S. Helps Ethiopia Prepare For and Respond to Mass Disasters  

November 16, 2007
No. 54/07

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) congratulated 63 government and private sector health care providers, first responders, and government experts today for completing training on mass-casualty preparedness and response.  The training, funded by the U.S. Government, taught participants how to prepare for and manage potential disaster events, including a simulation exercise on managing a mass causality crisis.  The Galillee College of Israel provided the training prior to Ethiopian Millennium celebrations. 

Glenn Anders, USAID Mission Director, and Dr. Nathan Tirosh, Dean of The Galillee College of Israel, handed certificates to 54 senior health professionals working in public and private hospitals and 9 senior experts working for the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA), Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), and Fire and Emergency Service Departments.  The Ministry of Health, DPPA, and representatives of the Embassy of Israel also attended the graduation ceremony. 

“In today’s world, it is imperative to be trained and prepared for both natural and man-made disasters,” Anders said.  “The American people have invested US $12.5 million since 2001 to strengthen the capacity of DPPA to prevent, prepare, and respond to disasters.  We are proud of our partnership, which promotes a culture of preparedness and community planning that will, ultimately, lesson the impact of disasters on the people of Ethiopia.”  

The special training was part of an effort led by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the DPPA to prepare for and efficiently and quickly respond to health emergencies for the Ethiopian Millennium celebration and beyond.

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