Ethiopia

The African Union has inaugurated the African Union COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory at its Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre, AU-PANVAC, office in Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia.

The laboratory was inaugurated by the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture H.E. Josefa Sacko and the Commissioner for Social Affairs H.E. Amira Elfadil.

The Bureau of the STC on Communication and ICT held a meeting by video conference on 05 May 2020 at the invitation of H.E Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission.

“The partnership with HP will accelerate our education response to Covid-19 to ensure accessible and continued learning for African youth”. AUC Human Resources, Science and Technology, H.E Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor said at Extra-Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology held virtually on 30th April 2020. The virtual meeting was attended by AU Member States Ministers of Education.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 29 April 2020 – The African Union has intensified efforts to strengthen integration of gender perspectives by Member States in their response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ministers in charge of gender and women affairs and the African Union Commission Women and Gender Development Directorate (WGDD), observed that gender inequalities have the potential to exacerbate the pandemic, and responses that do not incorporate gender analysis may worsen inequalities.

The African Union Commission (AUC), Human Resources, Science, and Technology (HRST) Department, is working on practical responses to ensure young Africans are taking personal responsibility to stay safe and ensure others do too during the Coronavirus pandemic. The response takes on a 3 x 4 model which focuses on reducing the health risk on young Africans, minimizing the impact of Covid-19 on their lives and mobilizing youth to be responders to Covid-19. The tenets of the response will be carried out through engagement, communications campaigns, innovation and partnerships.