Ethiopia Launches Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign
National Dialogue Commission Calls for Government Support
Ethiopia Launches Nationwide Polio Vaccination Campaign
Ethiopia has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign this week, targeting more than 13.8 million children under the age of five across nine regions. The four-day vaccination campaign, starting on February 21, will cover children who were previously vaccinated against the virus. About 85,000 healthcare professionals have been mobilized to carry out the campaign. In November 2024, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccinated over 5.6 million children with the type 2 novel oral polio vaccine. Since the last case of wild poliovirus was detected in January 2014, Ethiopia has faced periodic outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses.
Cholera Outbreak Confirmed in Gambella Region
Health authorities in Ethiopia’s western Gambella region have confirmed a cholera outbreak in four districts, which has so far claimed the lives of 14 people. The first case of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD), later confirmed as cholera through laboratory tests in Addis Ababa, was detected on Thursday last week. A total of 200 people have been infected, with three cases in the regional capital, Gambella. The disease is spreading rapidly in the Akobo, Lare, Mekoey, and Wentawo districts in Nuer zone, which borders South Sudan. The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided medical supplies to help local authorities treat patients and control the outbreak.
National Dialogue Commission Calls for Government Support
Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission has called on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government to take certain steps to facilitate the success of the upcoming national dialogue, particularly in the violence-stricken Amhara region. While the commission did not specify the actions required from the government, it plans to complete the agenda-gathering phase in Amhara and Tigray regions within the next year. The Federal Parliament recently extended the commission's mandate for another year. So far, the commission has completed the agenda-gathering phase in the capital Addis Ababa and 10 federal regions, with Amhara and Tigray remaining. Several opposition parties, including the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and the Enat Party, have withdrawn from the process, citing concerns about the lack of inclusivity and the commission’s perceived lack of independence, questioning the legitimacy of the dialogue.
Tigray Regional Security Forces Condemned for Unjustified Use of Force
The Tigray Regional Interim Administration and opposition parties have condemned the unjustified use of force by certain elements of the regional security forces in Seharti district of Southeastern zone on February 19. The security forces attempted to dismantle the local administrative structures by siding with one faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), leading to clashes with residents. Armed personnel fired gunshots to disperse a crowd protesting their interference in local administrative affairs. Several people were injured due to gunshots and beatings. Opposition parties have demanded investigations and accountability for the actions of the perpetrators.
Tigray Regional Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Teachers’ Lawsuit
The Tigray Regional Supreme Court has rejected a regulation adopted by the Interim Regional Administration (IRA) that prohibited lawsuits regarding the 17-month salary arrears claimed by public servants. The court ruled in favor of a petition filed by the regional Teachers Association, stating that the regulation violated the federal constitution and international law. The court’s decision allows the lawsuit to proceed. Public servants, including teachers, have been demanding the payment of their salaries, which were withheld during the 2020-2022 war between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF).
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