Israel to train Ethiopian medical doctors, nurses (Walta)

Addis Ababa, October 24, 2006 - Israel is to train Ethiopian medical doctors and nurses on treatment of AIDS patients as per the emergency plan initiated by US President George W. Bush, ynetnews.com reported.

In Ethiopia, out of the four million people living with the virus, only about 10 thousand of them receive treatment for the virus, it said.

As part of an emergency plan initiated by President Bush, 100 million US dollars would be transferred to Ethiopia annually for the purchase of medicines, it added.

A major problem was that Ethiopia has shortage of medical doctors who are knowledgeable about the drugs and how to treat HIV patients, it said. Israel decided to give a hand in the struggle against the deadly epidemic in training Ethiopian medical doctors on the subject.

The report said the first envoy of 11 Ethiopian medical doctors arrived in Israel this week from Addis Ababa. They were expected to undergo training in the AIDS clinics at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, and the Central Virology Laboratory at the Sheba Medical Centre in Tel-Hashomer.

(ENA)

Rare bird sighted in Ethiopia for first time since 1970s (BBC)

Bird charities are ecstatic after identifying the winter home of the northern bald ibis, a critically endangered species.

Three birds have now been followed by satellite tags from their summer grounds in Syria to Ethiopia.

Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) describes the find as a "major breakthrough". It says the ibis is the rarest bird in the Middle East; exact numbers are unknown but could be under 1,000. Read more..

Scores killed as fundametalists set church on fire (EthioMedia)

JIMMA, Southern Ethiopia - An unknown number of people have been killed and others wounded when a group of Islamic fundamentalists set a church on fire, and butchered the faithful to death with matchetes and knives, according to email messages that reached Ethiomedia on Sunday. Following are the messages that earnestly call on leaders of the two great religions (Islam and Christianity) to resolve the crisis immediately before the situation gets out of hand, and wreaks further havoc on communities that have lived harmoniously for generations. Read more..

Nation secures 1 bln. USD from Agricultural exports (Walta)

October 17, 2006 - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said Ethiopia has managed to get 1 billion USD from export of agricultural products.

Speaking on the celebration of World Food Day and FAO’s 60th year anniversary held in Awash Fentale woreda Sunday, State Minister Ahmed Nasser said Ethiopia has secured the stated sum in export revenue owing to the sound policies and strategies the government pursues.

Ahmed said efforts would also be strengthened in developing the sector carried out by investors, farmers and the government to further enhance qualities of agricultural exports.

He said the celebration entitled by “Investing Agriculture for Food Security” would go in line with policies and strategies of the country and support the development activities carried out in the sector. Read more..

Ethiopia to install telescope centre (Walta)

Addis Ababa, October 16, 2006 - The Ethiopian Space Society announced plans to establish a telescope centre that would link Ethiopia with other international space centres.

The society also said it would begin providing information on events taking place in the space for its members in Addis Ababa and some other places.

Tolu Biresa, Manager of the Society told ENA that the telescope centre, due to be established on Entoto Mountain, would conduct various research and studies in the Space Society and exchange research findings from similar centres in other countries. Read more..