Assosa Animal Health Center Struggles with Lack of Resources


Assosa Animal Health Center Struggles with Lack of Resources

Last week, the Standing Committee on Agricultural Affairs of the parliament visited the Asossa Animal Health Research Center (AAHRC) under the Animal Health Institute in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State. During their inspection on April 17, the committee confirmed that no meaningful work is currently being carried out at the facility. Despite being located in a livestock farming reliant region, AAHRC reported that it is not receiving the necessary support to fulfill its mandate. Originally established to help prevent and control the spread of diseases caused by Tsetse fly, the center is suffering from a severe lack of basic resources, including essential chemicals. The Standing Committee noted that the center’s remote forested location poses logistical challenges. However, they observed that the more pressing issue is the lack of institutional support from the Animal Health Institute, under which the center operates. In response, the committee issued a directive for immediate corrective action. Berhanu Itecha (PhD), Deputy Head of the Benishangul Gumuz Regional Agriculture Bureau, informed the committee that officials at the Animal Health Institute have shown little willingness to coordinate with the Asossa Center. He emphasized that the center’s staff have received no professional development or timely support, and that the institute has failed in its responsibility to implement disease control measures. Berhanu added that the situation has worsened since the 2022 merger that created the current Animal Health Institute, bringing together the former National Institute of Animal Health and the National Institute of Animal Health Research and Development. Since then, the Asossa Center has been left in a critical state with virtually no assistance from the parent institution. Teshome Kifle, a representative of the AAHRC, stressed that livestock is the region’s primary source of livelihood and reiterated that the center was established to address vector-borne diseases like Gendi (Animal trypanosomiasis). However, the center now faces acute shortages of professional staff, safety equipment, laboratory supplies, and chemical treatments. Teshome also said that the facility operates without fencing or adequate transportation, making it impossible to serve all 22 districts in the region. Staff are denied timely benefits and lack basic necessities such as office supplies and budgetary support. Fuel must be sourced from the black market, and the center was recently billed 600,000 birr for internet services, an expense it cannot afford. He concluded by telling the committee that without urgent intervention - including equipment, transportation, chemicals, and safety measures - the center cannot carry out its critical work to protect the region’s livestock and livelihoods.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...