The Hospital of the Russian Red Cross (the RRC), which is the oldest humanitarian organization in Russia, will continue its activities in Ethiopia and will participate in fighting epidemics and solving the country’s health issues and concerns. The present decision is stipulated in a 25-year agreement between the RRC and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia.
The official document was signed on December 8 in Ethiopia with the State Minister of Health, Dr. Dereje Duguma. The Agreement regulates the working procedures of the Dejazmach Balcha Abanefso Hospital in Addis Ababa. This Hospital is the only medical facility of the Russian Red Cross in a foreign country. The working procedures of the Hospital are stipulated by the signed Agreement.
Under the present Agreement, the Russian Red Cross undertakes to carry out the operational management of the healthcare facility and to contribute to sending highly qualified and experienced medical staff to work there.
“The text of the agreement has been negotiated and elaborated during the year with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia. We are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia, – the President of the Russian Red Cross, Pavel Savchuk, emphasized. For our part, we not only ensure the operational activities of the hospital, but also organize training and professional development of the staff. Next year we intend to invite Russian volunteers and medical staff for internships. It is expected that as soon as next year 20-30 candidates will be able to participate in such internships”.
In turn, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia under the present Agreement provides for the hospital with all necessary rights and assistance in its functioning, in particular in the procurement of pharmaceutical drugs, healthcare products and medical equipment. The Ministry of Health is also to assist in providing the necessary documents for the Russian staff of the hospital and their families to work and reside in the territory of the country.
“The Russian Red Cross Hospital in Addis Ababa has become the leading healthcare facility in our community over the past 75 years. Here the staff provides up-to-date medical treatment and preventive medical services, teams of Russian doctors come to Ethiopia. Russia supplies us with necessary medical equipment and provides financial support. This has been going on for many years, and we are very grateful to you for that, – was stated by the Dr. Dereje Duguma. – Now we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Red Cross and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, which means we will continue our cooperation. Medical specialists from Russia will come to Ethiopia to exchange experience. We also would like to send Ethiopian doctors to train in Russia. I would like to thank the Russian Red Cross for the great work that has been done in Ethiopia. I am also thankful to the Russian Federation and Russian citizens for our cooperation in healthcare and other areas”.
In addition, following a bilateral meeting between the leadership of the Russian Red Cross and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, it was decided that the RRC will also participate in fighting epidemics and other health issues and concerns of the country.
The agreement between the RRC and the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia was signed within the framework of the Presidential Grants Fund of the Russian Federation “Humanitarian Diplomacy and Strengthening Cooperation with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies”.
The Russian Red Cross Hospital in Ethiopia has been functioning since 1898. At present 35 employees from Russia and 184 employees from Ethiopia work there. About 60.000 patients receive treatment annually in the Hospital.
