Government, partners deliver 308 metric tons of health supplies to Tigray in six months

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2022 (FBC) – Ethiopian government is working together with international partner organizations to provide urgent support for health services so that the health and humanitarian needs of our communities affected by the conflict in different parts of our country is met.

Since January, the government in partnership with UN agencies and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) charter and regular flights has delivered medicines and medical supplies worth a total of Birr 71,179,802 to Tigray Region, the Ministry of Health stated.

The main supplies sent include anti-tuberculosis, anti-malarial, cardiac drugs, anesthesia drugs, hemodialysis equipment, vaccines, covid-19 supplies and other essential drugs, according to Ministry of Health.

The Ministry indicated that 135.45 metric tons of health and nutritional food supplies that can serve 1,128,750 individuals for 3 months have been sent to Tigray region for essential health services.

During the last two months (June and July), medicines and medical supplies worth more than 25 million birr have been sent to Tigray region.“The second is the support made through different partner organizations.”

The Ministry added that in the last six months, 76 metric tons of medical supplies have been sent to Tigray region by partner organizations.

UNICEF, Samaritans Purse, Goal Ethiopia, Save the children, Catholic relief service, CRS, Medical team international, World Vision, UNFPA, UNHCR, IOM, SCI, Plan international, MSF-H participated in it.

Recently, 1.04 metric tons of anti-tuberculosis drugs to be distributed by the World Health Organization through the Ministry of Health were arranged to be transported to Tigray by an emergency chartered UNHAS flight.

Preparations have been completed to send 55 metric tons of medical supplies and other supplies to Tigray this week.

In the last six months, 96.55 metric tons of essential medicines, which can serve 804,584 individuals for 3 months, have been acquired from the ICRC.

“In two months, it had been possible to facilitate the transportation of more than 38.45 metric tons of medicine and medical supplies from the ICRC Stock and Ministry of Health storage centers,”

A total of 308 metric tons of health supplies were transported from the Ministry of Health and partner organizations in the past six months.

The delivery of essential medicines and supplies will continue to be strengthened to reach the communities in need of these services, Ministry of Health added.