National Needs Assessment Update
Assessment teams in all regions, including Afar, Amhara, Beneshangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray have completed the assessment field work and begun the process of consolidating their findings and debriefing regional authorities. The assessment results will inform the 2013 Humanitarian Requirements Document (January-June), which is expected to be launched in early 2013. For more information, contact ocha-eth@un.org
Malaria Response Update
More than 1.7 million cases of malaria have been reported from five regions (Amhara, Beneshangul Gumuz, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray) since January 2012, of which 122,621 cases were reported in the week ending 24 November. The cases are mainly from Amhara (30 per cent), SNNP (28.2 per cent) and Oromia (22.5 per cent), according to the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) unit of the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute. The Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus and health partners continue implementing malaria prevention and control measures, including case management, distribution of insecticide treated nets, and indoor residual spraying. The November case fatality rate (CFR ≤1) indicates the success of such measures. However, inconsistent implementation of the new malaria treatment guidelines (some health facilities still using the old version) and weak reporting in some areas (reporting rate below 80 per cent) are outstanding concerns that need to be addressed. Countrywide, some 20 million people live in 160 malaria hyper hotspot woredas. For more information, contact: who-wro@et.efro.who.int.