Ethiopia, Spain Link up in COVID-19 Fight
ADDIS ABEBA – More than 200 Ethiopian and Spanish health specialists exchanged lessons learned so far on curbing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Spain embassy in Addis Ababa said.
The two sides held their meeting on Monday – the first day in nearly three months that health authorities in Spain reported no new deaths from the coronavirus. Since then, Spain reported no new deaths from the virus and statistics new infections and others are following a trend.
Cases in Ethiopia, on the other hand, are on the upward trend with the country registering three deaths and 172 new infections of COVID-19 this week alone.
The last lesson learned in the COVID19 exchange session between the two sides was conducted on the impact of the pandemic on the Spanish health system, according to the Spanish embassy’s statement sent to The Monitor.
– Increasing skill –
More than two hundred professionals participated in the five sessions of experience sharing on hospital management and emergency services, radiology or intensive care, the statement reads.
Ethiopian professionals have been able to find details on the clinical approach to COVID19 cases, while Spanish doctors have been inspired by the important containment and preparation initiatives carried out by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, it says.
“This program is an opportunity to increase the skills in some medical specialties,” Assegid Samuel, Director of Human Resources department at Ministry of Health, said. “Therefore, the link between the Ministry of Health and Spanish Cooperation contributes to strengthen our Health System”.
Currently, Spain is an active partner in the Team Europe efforts to carry out coordinated responses to COVID-19 crisis by the EU and its member states.
“This initiative is a contribution to face this global problem,” said Francisco de Asis Lopez, Spanish Agency Head of cooperation in Ethiopia.
The latest link-up has been extended through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). “AECID is committed to supporting the efforts of our partner countries, not only during emergencies but with a forward perspective since we are working together to design a new specialized medical training program to improve capacities of Ethiopian professionals,” Lopez said.
