Blood Center Groundbreaking

On May 4, 2016, USAID, with funding from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, joined the Ministry of Health in a goundbreaking ceremony for a new 5,300 square meter National Blood Transfusion Center in Addis Ababa.

Video Transcript 
(00:04-00:08) It just looks kind of like a bit of a parking lot and a plot of grass and rocks here… (00:08-00:17) but I think what we’re going to be seeing emerging here after some time is the workings of this new blood center. (00:17-00:22) And I think it’s going to be a real capstone to the infrastructure around here (00:22-00:25) It really does represent a lot more than just a building. (00:25-00:32) It represents, I think, a center that will serve close to 26 million Ethiopians… (00:32-00:43) and it will account for, as I understand it, about 25 percent of the WHO-recommended collection facilities here in Ethiopia. (00:43-00:44) It’s worth waiting for. (00:45-00:53) We are really honored and happy with the support we have been getting from USAID in particular… (00:53-00:57) and the U.S. Government in general, and PEPFAR as well. (00:57-01:11) Like all constructions that have been financed by the U.S. Government, we believe that this will be one of the best buildings and it will serve a nice purpose for the blood transfusion center. (01:11-01:22) Without your unprecedented support, the result Ethiopia has achieved in the health sector and other social sectors would not have been possible. (01:22-01:25) (applause) Keep digging…