COVID-19 in Ethiopia: Assessment of How the Ethiopian Government has Executed Administrative Actions and Managed Risk Communications and Community Engagement

Abstract

Introduction

Highly communicable nature of the pandemic attributed the COVID-19 response in Ethiopia harsher and dangerous. It has been causing a huge fatality and death toll reported. Besides, a very swift transmission of viruses distributed within 213 countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this empirical study investigates all government and stakeholders’ effects in line with identifying the current status found in Ethiopia.

Methods

Qualitative approach of data collections and thematic analysis were used.

Results

The outcomes indicate that COVID-19 situations gain the highest momentum by increasing alarmingly. It shows significant differences after two months since March 2020 it has reported the first case in Ethiopia. The government took several measures ranging from public health emergency response to the state of emergency. The communication strategy and state of emergency are in place to reduce the prospective risks of COVID-19. The strategy segmented the population by tailoring activities of risk communication and community engagement at all levels. The government has strongly obtained various measures like lockdown and a state of emergency. However, it was not strict and has not been heavy-handed that much.

Conclusion

KAP’s practices are inadequate to fight and minimize the impacts of the pandemic. Such negligence among the public and related factors undermined the preparedness and responses towards COVID-19 in Ethiopia. New cases and deaths are non-stoppable. The government is using several strategies and need to strengthen those efforts to mobilize and upbeat the KAP’s of the public through different communication forms to reinforce the existing efforts and alleviate socio-cultural, political, economic factors to drive out COVID-19 among the people. The efforts are building and strengthening up to the standard level of KAP’s while enhancing and promoting existing strategies and the drawing of new documents by focusing on high-risk parts of the population.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Ethiopia
• risk communication
• community empowerment
• emergency preparedness
• response

Acknowledgment

I would be grateful to say thanks to Mr. Menyichil M. Abebe, University of Gondar, for his proofreading suggestions. My second appreciation also goes to Ms. Yekite Aynalem, Debre Tabor University, for her similar contributions. Thus, both scholars’ contributions were vital to enhancing the quality of this study.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest for this work.