Ethiopian Dracunculiasis Secretariat Office Inaugurated
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and The Carter Center- Ethiopia inaugurated a secretariat office for the national guinea worm eradication program personnel which has been constructed in the premises of the Institute on June 13, 2016.
Dr. Amha Kebede Director General of EPHI, in his keynote address during the inauguration ceremony said that, this secretariat office will help us a lot to facilitate the necessary support for the eradication program in our day to day activities.
Dr. Zerihune Tadesse Country Director of The Carter Center- Ethiopia in his message said that, The Carter Center is extremely honored to financially support the construction of the secretariat office’s building and staff it with seven full time personnel in addition to dozen out in Gambella Regional State and assist The Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute and Regional
Health Bureau’s effort to eliminate Guinea Worm Disease from Ethiopia.World Laurite; Good will Ambassador of GWEP Dr. Tibebe Yemaneh on his part said that, each and every one of us sitting here have a responsibility to our country to make sure our country is no longer associated with this disease. As health professionals we have the obligation to educate the community, to detect cases at an early stage and document each and every suspect we come across.
“As members of the community, we are bestowed with the responsibility to notify health facilities or to call the toll-free hotline 8335 to report possible suspects of GWD,” he added.
The cost of the Secretariat Office Building is about one million Ethiopian Birr. During the inauguration reception program invited Directors of different Directorate of the Institute and all staff members of the Carter Center were participated.