U.S. CDC launches $20m coronavirus aid, relief, economic security project in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, April 16, 2021 (FBC) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has committed an additional $20 million to strengthen Ethiopia’s capabilities in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, immunization, and emergency management through a partnership with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), regional health bureaus and other key partners.

These supports are funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act originally published on March 27, 2020, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Addis Ababa.

CDC also provided support to national and regional immunization programs to ensure continuity of routine immunizations during the COVID-19 and strengthening the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

This project will strengthen and support disease surveillance, laboratory systems, the influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) sentinel network, the Emergency Operations Centers network, Field Epidemiology Training Program, continuity of routine immunizations, the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, and infection prevention and control activities in Ethiopia.

The project emphasizes strengthening existing public health infrastructure in line with the Ethiopian Preparedness and Response Plan strategy of integrating COVID-19 into the health care system and decentralization of the COVID-19 response.