Ethiopia: The risk of sending medical teams to ebola-stricken nations
OPINION By Dr. Haile Michael Mamo Ethiopia has a long history of showing solidarity with other African countries on strategic issues. Ethiopian peacekeepers were sent to United Nations missions since the 1950s and more recently to crisis spots in Africa such as South Sudan, Somalia, and Rwanda. Ethiopia feels a distinct responsibility for Africa as it is a founding member of the African Union ( AU) and its capital Addis Ababa has been the seat of the African Union (formerly the OAU) since its founding in 1963. Successive Ethiopian governments have embarked on Pan African missions despite the economic difficulty in the country indicating how important it is for Ethiopia to take a stand on important Pan African matters. Last week, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health announced its decision to momentarily send 210 health workers – doctors, nurses, and public health professionals – to Ebola affected West African countries where over 4,900 people have so far died to help comba