FRANCE AND ETHIOPIA SIGN DEAL TO REHABILITATE AND RE-EQUIPED ABALA HOSPITAL

The Ministry of Health in Ethiopia and France signed an agreement to expand their collaboration in rehabilitating and re-equipping a hospital in the Afar region of Abala town.

The French embassy in Addis Ababa also announced an additional commitment to support the rehabilitation of Adwa Hospital in Tigray.

The MoU was signed by Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse and France’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Rémi Marechaux on Monday.

The Ambassador has also handed over a letter to Dr. Lia Tadesse, stating France’s intent to re-equip Adwa’s public hospital with a 1.5 million euros donation.

The latest commitments follow a field visit to the regions by the French top diplomat in Ethiopia last month.

“Following our support to Dessie referral hospital, I am happy to announce that France is committed to supporting the rehabilitation of Abala and Adwa hospitals,” Ambassador Maréchaux said at the signing event.

The two hospitals provide health services to 1.5 million people living in the surrounding areas.

“We hope that this reconstruction effort will be a prequel to further involvement from different partners in all areas affected by the conflict,” the ambassador said

“The positive track towards peace and political dialogue must be solidified quickly and I hope this contribution can help foster reconciliation.”

The 2.5M euros project at Abala’s Hospital is funded by the Crisis and Support Centre of France’s Foreign Ministry and implemented by Expertise France, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and Afar Regional Health Bureau.

SOURCE: Ethiopia Monitor