146m Br Budgeted to Eradicate Malaria, Trachoma

The eradication and prevention of malaria and trachoma pandemic in the Amhara Regional State requires the Maltra Project of the Carter Centre to budget 146 million Br under a five-year plan. A three-day seminar took place in Dessie to train and create awareness about the objective with which the Maltra Project will carry out its programme in all zones and woredas of the Amhara State. The Maltra Project has been active over the past 10 months in the State and periodic training for health practitioners and members of the community to bring behavioural change have been offered. This project has advanced to treat five million trachoma patients since January 2007, sources form the Project Office said.
 

Mosquito Net Factory to Be Erected for 23m Br

A chemical-treated mosquito net factory is to be erected at a project cost of 23 million Br in Adami Tulu by the Adami-Tulu Pesticide Producers SC. Twelve million Birr of the project cost was secured from an IDF loan and organisations in the private sector. According to Kebede Worku, state minister of Health, 75pc of the land is mosquito infested and nearly 51 million people are exposed to malarial disease. The construction of the factory has important socioeconomic impacts both in terms of preventing the people from being affected by this deadly tropical disease and saving over three million dollars from importing mosquito nets per annum, Samuel Halala, manager of Adami-Tulu, confirmed. When the factory becomes operational, 310 people would be employed, he added.

Japanese Agency to Provide 30m Br for Potable Water in South

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to provide developmental assistance worth 30 million Br for implementation of safe drinking water and sanitation project in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional State (SNNPRS). The State's Water Resource Bureau and JICA signed an agreement to implement the project. According to Abdusurkrum Nesru, public relations officer of the bureau, the project would cover 80 woredas of SNNPRS.

Irrigation Project in Tigray State benefits 13,000 Farmers

The irrigation development of 2,300hct of land by harnessing rivers and water harvesting ponds in Ambalage Woreda of Michew Zone in the Tigray Regional State earned 13,000 farmers 31 million Br in the period of one year. According to the Ambalage Agriculture and Rural Development Office, the income was gained from the sale of agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, crops and spices.

Aviation Authority Fails to Collect 25m Br for Five Years

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) has not yet collected an outstanding bill amounting to over 25 million Br from revenue in 2002 alone as a result of irregular procurement and tender processes with which used goods, among others, were traded and have been stored in the warehouse, according to the findings of the Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission. Due to the lax system at ECAA, revenues went astray without being collected, the Commission report indicates.

Harari Gets 72m Br Investment

Projects worth more than 72 million Br are set to be executed in Harari regional state during the current fiscal year. Of which nearly 40pc of the sum goes to finance the construction of new asphalt road. Arif Abdulhzif, head of the finance and economic development bureau says that the projects cover six urban and three rural kebelles in the region. The projects focus on education, urban development, agriculture, water, health, capacity building as well as the construction of asphalt road, the head of bureau confirms.

Kirkos District Collects Falls Short 30m Br of Targeted Revenue

Over 110 million Br of revenue from income tax, value added tax (VAT) as well as house rent has been collected by the Kirkos District in the period between July and October 2007. Although the District targeted to collect 140 million Br within the three-month period, however, it managed to grab 78pc of the initial target, Adugna Ashagre, department head at the District confirmed. The amount of revenue collected by the District this year rose from 29.1 million Br in the same period last year, she stresseed. 

Michelin to Introduce Tubeless Tyres

Tubeless tyres will be introduced in Ethiopia for road trucks by the Michelin Company. According to officials of the company, motorists using tubeless tyres reduce the risk of frequent accidents occurring in the country. The XYZ 2 and XDY 3 of new products from Michelin were displayed in the trade fare that took event a couple of weeks ago and these latest tyres have a 30pc greater efficiency in terms of mileage to service from other conventional brand of tyres, Sylvain Cosine, regional manager of Michelin, informed the Daily Monitor.

Norway Donates $15m for Rights, Youth Dev't

The Norwegian government donated more than 15 million dollars through the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for five regional states over a five-year period. These projects themed under the Rights Based Approach to Adolescent and Youth Development cover Amhara, Afar, Oromia, South as well as Addis Abeba regions.

Oromia State Allocates 111m Br for Resettlement

The Oromia Regional State Food Security Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Commission has allocated over 111 million Br for its resettlement programme during the current Ethiopian year. According to the programme, preparation is underway to resettle 33,000 households in the State and 51pc of the budget goes to cover the day to day upkeep of the new settlers. East Harrarge, West Harrarge, Horo Guduru, Wollega, and West Shoa are the five zones the resettlement programmes target.