Japan donates 66 EHK to help fight drought induced diseases in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, April 30(ENA)-- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia on Wednesday donated to the Ministry of Health 66 emergency health kits.

The donation was provided in response to the appeal made by the Ministry on 16 December 2002 for medical assistance to help mitigate drought related health problems and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, according to a press release issued by the Embassy.

The kits include emergency drugs, emergency medical supplies and instruments, and malaria treatment drugs to the amount of 2.8 million Birr, the release said, adding one kit is considered to be enough for 10,000 people for three months.

"The Government of Japan regards the drought currently affecting a reported 12.5 million people in Ethiopia as a matter of serious concern," the release said.

Over the last three years, the Government of Japan has contributed 9.86 million US Dollars to the polio eradication campaign and 325,000 US Dollars to procure essential drugs for reproductive health, it said.

According to the release, training health personnel in managing tuberculosis, eradication of preventable disease using vaccines, medical equipment maintenance, nutrition and diet improvement, and parasite control administration has also been undertaken.

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