Ethiopia must stop ‘harassing' striking health workers: HRW
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian authorities must 'stop harassing' its health workers, who have been on strike for weeks demanding better wage conditions, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday.
Police said in May that they had arrested 47 health workers for taking part in the nationwide strike, which has halted non-emergency services at public hospitals and teaching institutions.
An online healthcare workers' group told HRW that 148 healthcare workers had been arrested between early May and early June, though the figure could not be corroborated.
'The Ethiopian authorities have resorted to repressive tactics instead of addressing healthcare workers' concerns about their livelihoods and safety,' said Laetitia Bader, HRW's deputy Africa director, in a statement.
'The government should immediately lift the suspension of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association and stop harassing healthcare workers,' she added.
The association was suspended earlier this month for supporting the strike and HRW says health professionals have been subjected to 'threats and intimidation'.
A surgeon told HRW he earned just $80 a month despite being in the top tier for doctors' pay.
'I cannot even change my shoes,' he said. 'I cannot even properly feed my child.'
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in power since 2018, told a meeting of health workers this week that their demands were legitimate but that the movement had been 'hijacked' by political interests.
Ethiopia has Africa's second-largest population with an estimated 130 million people. A third live below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day.
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3 days ago
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Ethiopia must stop ‘harassing' striking health workers: HRW
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian authorities must 'stop harassing' its health workers, who have been on strike for weeks demanding better wage conditions, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday. Police said in May that they had arrested 47 health workers for taking part in the nationwide strike, which has halted non-emergency services at public hospitals and teaching institutions. An online healthcare workers' group told HRW that 148 healthcare workers had been arrested between early May and early June, though the figure could not be corroborated. 'The Ethiopian authorities have resorted to repressive tactics instead of addressing healthcare workers' concerns about their livelihoods and safety,' said Laetitia Bader, HRW's deputy Africa director, in a statement. 'The government should immediately lift the suspension of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association and stop harassing healthcare workers,' she added. The association was suspended earlier this month for supporting the strike and HRW says health professionals have been subjected to 'threats and intimidation'. A surgeon told HRW he earned just $80 a month despite being in the top tier for doctors' pay. 'I cannot even change my shoes,' he said. 'I cannot even properly feed my child.' Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in power since 2018, told a meeting of health workers this week that their demands were legitimate but that the movement had been 'hijacked' by political interests. Ethiopia has Africa's second-largest population with an estimated 130 million people. A third live below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day.
The Star
19-06-2025
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A free clinic for donkeys
A man walking his donkeys to a donkey clinic to get his animals a treatment in Addis Ababa. — Photos: AFP At a clinic in Ethiopia's capital, a donkey is complaining as a vet tries to trim his nails. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world – one in five of the global total according to the United Nations – and they form a vital part of the economy. So the Donkey Sanctuary, run by a British charity that operates around the world, has its work cut out at its free clinic near Merkato, Addis Ababa's vast open-air market. On a recent visit, several dozen donkeys were gathered in pens, some agitated and kicking their feet, while others eagerly pounced on food. Caregivers and veterinarians were taking turns treating injuries, colic and eye problems. Guluma Bayi, 38, walked more than an hour and a half with his two donkeys to reach the clinic. 'It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick,' he said. 'One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue.' Like the others making the trip, Guluma relies heavily on his donkeys to make a living. He uses them to transport jerrycans of water to sell to his fellow villagers. 'After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children,' he said. 'I begged a guy to bring me here.' After successful treatment, Guluma was able to go home with both donkeys. A veterinarian treating a donkey at the clinic. Ethiopia had around nine million donkeys in 2018. A donkey yourself The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some nine million donkeys as of 2018. They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods, offering a cheaper alternative to vehicles at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. 'There is a proverb in Ethiopia: if you don't have a donkey, you are a donkey yourself,' said Tesfaye Megra, project coordinator for the Donkey Sanctuary, laughing. The charity operates in several regions across the country and opened its Addis Ababa centre in 2007. 'They are invaluable animals ... and they are suffering while they are providing different services to the community,' said Tesfaye. The daily life of donkeys is no picnic. Urban sprawl in the Ethiopian capital has made green spaces increasingly scarce. The loads they carry can be heavy, and many are beaten and badly treated. Another visitor to the clinic, Chane Baye, said he used his two donkeys to carry sacks filled with grain for clients across the city. They allow him to earn between 200 and 400 birr per day (RM6.35 and RM12.70) – not bad in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of US$2.15 (RM9.10) per day. The 61-year-old comes roughly every three months to have his donkeys checked – '... whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem,' he said. 'Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them,' he added, referring in particular to nails roughly removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is pleased his donkeys now get professional treatment for wounds and infections. Derege Tsegay, a vet at the sanctuary, performs a routine but unsavoury operation – inserting his gloved-up arm deep into a struggling donkey's rectum. Derege pulls out the large chunk of faeces that had accumulated in the animal's stomach. 'It happens often,' he said. A shortage of food in the city means donkeys eat whatever they find, often including plastic which can block their digestive system. It's not always pleasant, but he knows how important the work can be for local people. 'I am proud of what I am doing ... because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys,' he said with a smile. – AFP
The Star
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Ethiopian parliament passes bill banning single-use plastic bags
ADDIS ABABA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR), the lower chamber of parliament, on Tuesday approved a bill that bans single-use plastic bags. Under the new law, individuals found using or distributing single-use plastic bags face fines of up to 5,000 Ethiopian birr (about 38.7 U.S. dollars), while manufacturers, importers, and marketers could face steeper penalties or suspension of licenses. "This is a necessary and long-overdue step," said Gemedo Dalle, minister of environment, forest, and climate change, during a press briefing following the parliamentary vote. "Plastic pollution is choking our rivers, poisoning livestock, and polluting farmlands. Ethiopia must act now before it becomes unmanageable," Dalle said. Ahead of the parliamentary vote, it was noted that a nationwide public awareness campaign will be launched shortly, aiming to educate citizens about the details of the new law. According to data obtained from the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, plastic bags constitute 46 percent of the plastic waste generated by the public in the East African country.
