Ethiopia took a significant step towards bolstering its defenses against potential pandemics by officially launching the Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (EPPR) on Monday, January 29, 2024.
The project launch, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, saw the participation of notable figures including H.E. Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, and Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), alongside senior government officials and representatives from various organizations such as the Pandemic Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Africa CDC, the World Bank, and other key partners.
The Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (EPPR) is a comprehensive initiative spanning three years, designed to address the specific needs of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response within Ethiopia’s diverse landscape.
The Project, which is supported by a $50 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and an additional $63 million in co-financing, is a partnership between key stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Armauer Hanson Research Institute (AHRI), Animal Health Institute (AHI), WHO, UNICEF, FAO, and other partners.