ORDA to launch a new “ATCP” program
By Esubalew Dires
Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) launched inaugural ceremony which was held on the 23rd of May 2014 at Bahir Dar Kuriftu Resort and Spa to extend a new “Amhara Trachoma Control Program- ATCP”. The program will be implemented in four districts of the region with a total budget of 48.2 million ETB and it is funded by the government of Canada and Italy and it will be implemented for the coming 3 to 5 years.
During the inauguration, Dr. Amlaku Asres, Executive Director of ORDA, reminded that ORDA with CBM (Christian Blind Mission) implemented ATCP project since 2010 in two districts and a magnificent success have been achieved. He mentioned a total of 111,266 people are benefited from the constructed 104 water supply schemes, active trachoma and treatment of antibiotics, TT surgery and TTC eye ointments.
Dr. Amlaku explained the new program is an extension of the previous one which is aimed to reduce the high prevalence of active trachoma in Amhara region through the implementation of comprehensive safe water strategy and it supports the regional government campaign on Trachoma Control to reach MDG by 2015.
Ato Ayelign Mulualem, Head of ANRS Health Bureau, in his opening remark said Ethiopia is a rapidly developing country that is burdened and held back by a high prevalence of communicable diseases. Among the diseases, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, malariaand trachoma experience a heavy burden in Amhara region. Despite major progresses have been made to improve the health status of the population in the last two decades, it still requires to working hard to improve the health status. The government has formulated and implemented a number of policies and strategies that afforded an effective framework for improving health in the country including the recent maternal and neonatal health. In this regard, we appreciate ORDA’s, stakeholders’ and other NGO’s role to better the health status of the population in the region, Ato Ayelign said.
In the same token, CBM Country Director of Ethiopia and the Sudan Ato Tigabu G/Medhin, in his presentation, emphasized how much ‘Trachoma’ is a serious problem in Amhara region. He posed that CBM-supported eye care programmes to improve the quality of life of people delivering adequate, safe and clean water. Ato Tigabu G/Medhin calls for the government of the region and stakeholders’ to collaborate ORDA and CBM program for its fruitful achievement.
It is officially declared that the new ATCP is launched in four districts of Waghemra, North and South Wollo Zones and representatives from Embassy of Italy and Canada, CBM family, CBM Country Director of Ethiopia and Sudan participated in the ceremony.