KOICA Provides Comprehensive Emergency Support for COVID-19 in Ethiopia

Comprehensive Emergency Support Program MOU Signed
Promoting COVID-19 Emergency Supplies Support, Healthcare Workforce Capacity Building, and Assistance for Vulnerable Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA announced on the 10th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health on the 7th (local time) to promote a comprehensive emergency support program for COVID-19.

This support project is implemented as part of the government's 'ODA KOREA: Building TRUST' initiative for development cooperation to create a safer world together. Ethiopia is one of the nine priority countries selected for epidemic prevention cooperation under this development cooperation initiative.

The Ethiopia COVID-19 Comprehensive Emergency Support Program is designed considering the poor local healthcare environment and consists of △emergency medical equipment support for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment △capacity building for infectious disease response and management of professionals △support for vulnerable groups through collaboration with the private sector and civil society.

As part of the emergency medical equipment support activities, KOICA plans to provide K-quarantine innovative products and medical equipment such as negative pressure carriers for ambulances and medical waste incineration facilities to three COVID-19 base hospitals located in Addis Ababa. Emergency supplies such as diagnostic equipment (PCR devices, nucleic acid amplifiers), diagnostic consumables (plates, reagents), and personal protective equipment for medical personnel (protective suits, gloves, goggles) will also be provided.

For capacity building of professionals, non-face-to-face consulting to transfer domestic quarantine success experiences, and cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) will be conducted to strengthen laboratory capabilities, train epidemiological investigators and analysts, crisis communication, and educate community health workers.

As part of support activities for vulnerable groups, activities will include △supporting hygiene products and daily necessities for displaced persons in Ethiopia in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) △providing emergency funds to small and medium-sized enterprises and preserving jobs for vulnerable groups in cooperation with the Mastercard Foundation △establishing local production facilities for personal protective equipment (PPE) using idle equipment.

Kim Dong-ho, head of KOICA's Ethiopia office, said, "Through the comprehensive emergency support program, we expect to further improve Ethiopia's COVID-19 diagnosis and management capabilities, promote the achievements of K-quarantine, and help innovative products enter overseas markets." He added, "Ethiopia is a blood ally that participated in the Korean War and has greatly helped the safe return of Koreans staying in Africa during the COVID-19 crisis. We will overcome the COVID-19 crisis together in the spirit of solidarity."

Meanwhile, as of the 4th, Ethiopia has recorded about 19,000 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases, with more than 500 new cases consistently occurring.