Speaking at The Annual General Health Assembly of the Ethiopian Catholic Church event held on December 2 – 3, 2015 in Addis Ababa Cardinal Berhaneyesus said, “As you know female genital mutilation is still practiced in this country. The practice has no religious base. Nowhere in the Bible is female circumcision written about. Still more has to be done in the fight against these malice.”
He said that more has to be done the vision of the Catholic Church is to serve the Kingdom of God both at the level of individual and society through Evangelization and promotion of integral human development to have Ethiopian society free from disease, disability and ignorance
“Healing was an essential part of Jesus’ public ministry and Mission which he entrusted to his disciples. It is an important aspect of the salvation and liberation of human kind. The Church’s concern for the sick is therefore, part and parcel of entrusted mission by Christ in our world” he said.
At the event it was noted that the Church specifically focuses on the poor and the marginalized sector of the society as priority and tries to address primary health care coverage, maternal health care, communicable and non-communicable diseases, nutrition programs, HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Speaking at the same occasion Mr. Bekele Moges, ECC SDCO Executive Director said that the health sector strategic plan is contributing to the economic growth of Ethiopia and the Church is a leading partner with the government in health care. Currently the Catholic Church in Ethiopia, through her 87 health institutions, is providing care, treatment and support to the sick, disabled and the poor.
The Catholic in Ethiopia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and is working accordingly.
“I would like to appreciate the FMoH for signing this MoU that helps us to work with an integrated and coordinated efforts, to improve the effectiveness of health program, to avoid unnecessary duplication of services, and improve our performances” said Mr. Bekele.
A market stall show casing the health services of all the Catholic health institutions was part of the event. Among the participants were representatives of FMoH, Regional Health Bureaus, Partners, Diocesan Health Coordinators and Heads of Catholic Health Institutions throughout the country. Medals and Certificated of appreciations were also given to the Catholic health care facilitators in recognition of their services. The theme for the 2015 Assembly is “implementation of New Policies and Standards for Sustainable Health Services: Integration of FGM issues in the Catholic Church Health Institutions.”
By Makeda Yohannes, CBCE Communications and Public Relation Office, Ethiopia