We are so grateful to all of our AJ friends and supporters for reaching out and asking how the AJ Home, FEP program and staff are doing during COVID-19. Just like here in the US and elsewhere in the world, COVID-19 has brought many changes to our communities, affecting the ways we live, work and interact.
Ethiopia confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 13. As we stand today, April 11, the number of confirmed cases has reached 69. Last week the country was declared a State of Emergency.
Like the rest of Africa, Ethiopia is still among the least-affected countries at the moment but experts are increasingly concerned that the country is particularly vulnerable. This is because Ethiopia does not have the infrastructure to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak. Access to safe water and sanitation is low and given there is already a high healthcare worker-to-patient ratio, the challenge COVID-19 will bring to the healthcare system is apparent.
Despite the upcoming challenge, and taking lessons from countries hard hit by the pandemic, Ethiopia is doing the best possible preparation to handle an outbreak. The Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has already closed 80 international flight destinations, and when people enter Ethiopia through air travel, they are directed to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in designated areas by the government. To halt the movement of people along the borders, all land borders are also closed.
In addition to continuously preparing isolation and treatment centers, timely and accurate information on COVID-19 prevention is being given to the public through messages in outgoing and incoming phone calls. A 24-hour call desk has also been established at the Emergency Operations Centre in Addis Ababa for people to report if they suspect they have COVID-19. The call center also counters rumors and misinformation about the virus.
Now there is increased awareness among people that the best strategies to prevent the virus spreading among communities are ‘frequent handwashing’ and ‘social distancing.’
But what does social distancing mean for Ethiopia, where such a concept has no place in the everyday realities of people’s lives? How are people going to put that into practice?
In societies where daily life takes place in the streets, lockdowns and social distancing obviously put people’s livelihoods and survival at risk. Slowing down or closing open markets and banning street vendors affect people’s livelihoods and access to affordable food.
Overall, the COVID-19 social distancing requirement is difficult in Ethiopia, due to the fact that many Ethiopians live close to one another, both for economic and social reasons. For example, in Addis Ababa, it is normal to see packed public transportation to accommodate needs. Marketplaces are always packed with shoppers, sellers, and people who earn their daily income from loading and unloading materials that arrive at the market. But in the COVID-19 situation, this needs to be halted in the sense of prioritizing health. Although people understand it is crucial to implement the advice from health professionals, it often becomes difficult for them to put that in practice.
While we are able to keep our AJ Home contained and safe, COVID-19 is gradually seeping into the fabrics of the everyday lives of families in our Family Empowerment Program in Addis Ababa. These families live in houses that have one or two rooms and located in compounds commonly shared with other families. Shared latrines and sinks within these compounds are also common. There are many instances that families come in closer distance with each other, as there is no designated space for one family. Children often come together to play. The majority of our FEP families are also required to walk outside of their compounds to buy and bring water home, traveling sometimes long distances to get water. Implementing social distancing is therefore difficult.
Check back to the blog soon for an update on how AJ Home and our Family Empowerment Program are fairing through COVID-19 and how you can help. There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now to make sure we keep our AJ Home and FEP families safe and healthy through the pandemic. We appreciate your support and prayers for all that we serve. If you’d like to give to our COVID-19 Relief Fund, please go to www.addisjemari.org/donate. #bettertogether #AJFamily