Inquiry Board look over Addis Ababa City Administration Approaches to # COVID-19

April 30, 2020(HOPR):- The State of Emergency Inquiry Board made a field observation to follow up the implementation of the State of Emergency in Addis Ababa city Administration as the strain on cities is extreme.

The board discussed the implementation of the State of Emergency with Endawek Abite, deputy and Public Service Institutions manager of the city and with other executive directors. 

Chairperson of the Board Honorable Peteros Woldesenbet said that the purpose of the Board's visit was to inspect the activities the city administration is undertaking to implement the # COVID-19 state of emergency orders, the execution of the rules, regulations safe work practices and how to provide support services to essential service agencies.

Even if the terms and conditions of employment of all private employees including their salaries determined under the respective laws and contacts are protected, a few private school teachers in the city have reached out to the Board for complaints such as the failure to pay, eviction from private house rents, and increase in transportation tariffs.

Deputy Mayor Endawek Abite and his colleagues told the board that they are responding to a public awareness campaign on a number of faith-based institutions, markets and public transport sites, with the use of a variety of media outlets. He explained that all their employees are continue to follow the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health on social distancing, personal hygiene, to remain at home and seek medical clearance in the event of feeling sick.

He said a number of nightclubs, Khat chewing rooms, bars, and traditional alcohol houses had been closed and arrested offenders, and that corrective measures were taken on vehicles that were overloaded and extra tariff taxis.

It is stated that the city administration has distribute medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment to different community, Health care workers, facilities and essential staff to support their #COVID-19 response and recovery.

The Chairperson of the Board, for his part, appreciated the city administrations activates and actions to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure the implementation of the proclamation urged for  enshrining individual human rights.

By Yared Eshetu

House interpreter.