vol. 27 no. 9 wednesday, april 1, 2020 pages 8,...

Vol. 27 No. 9 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

The Government of Eritrea has been issuing guidelines periodically for controlling the spread of COVID-19. The guidelines have not been implemented with the rigor and seriousness that they warrant. Contrary to the guidelines on social distancing, the crowding that continues to occur in religious places of worship, and other social events as well as in service enterprises is extremely preoccupying. At a time when the pandemic is spreading all over the world at an alarming rate and entailing huge loss of life, all guidelines must be respected fully by every citizen. The relevant government bodies must also take appropriate deterrent action.

Three passengers that came to Eritrea prior to the ban on Flights, (enforced on March 25), were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 during tests carried out on March 30. Two of these are male while the age range of the patients is from 48 to 60.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country has now reached 15. All the patients are receiving necessary medical treatment.

In this respect, the following measures are being taken in addition to those which were announced previously:

1. Relevant government authorities will take punitive measures from, 31st March 2020, on all citizens and institutions that violate the guidelines.

2. Bars, restaurants, cafés and other service outlets that cater to sizeable clients will be closed for 14 days from 6:00 a.m. 31st March 2020. All employees of these enterprises will not be laid off and their full salary for the period in question will be borne by the employer.

3. Essential enterprises, banks, pharmacies, groceries and outlets for other necessary consumer goods will remain open.

4. Payment of electricity, water and telephone household bills will be postponed.

5. All court sessions – at all levels – will be postponed until further notice.

6. All Government bodies will issue and observe detailed guidelines to implement all measures taken to-date in their respective institutions.

Ministry of HealthAsmara

30 March 2020

Persistent effort is being made in various corners of Eritrea to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Administration of the Gash Barka region has launched various awareness-raising campaigns and participation of the public in the effort to control the spread of Corona Virus.

Dr. Hayelom Kidane, Head of the Ministry of Health in the region, indicated that the social mobilization and organization that existed in the region with a view to control the prevalence of communicable diseases will have significant contribution in the success of the effort.

The health station put in place in Foro sub-zone is contributing commendable health care service both in curbing the prevalence of communicable diseases and in increasing the awareness of the society on modern medicine,

Inhabitants who were scattered in eight villages clustered in four administrative areas in Karora sub-zone have been regrouped in two areas namely in Arag and Halibet.

Accordingly 80 families have regrouped in Arag and 115 families in Halibet.

The village regrouping is aimed at to enable residents become beneficiaries of social services and strong awareness activity has been conducted for the success of the program.

According to the coordinators of the program, the roads linking the two administrative areas was renovated through popular campaigns of the residents and other stakeholders and that had significant contribution in the regrouping program.

Prior to the program, Mr. Haile Tewoldemedhin, Secretary of the PFDJ in the Northern Red Sea region, held meeting with the residents on the implementation of the program.

The 21st round students of Social Science conducted tour to the historical tranches of Nakfa in which the Eritrean youth demonstrated heroic feat during the armed struggle for independence as well as developmental sites in the area.

The 500 youth tour participants were provided briefing combatants who participated in the struggle about the heroic feat demonstrated by the liberation fighter and public.

Indicating that the Nakfa Front is the symbol of self-reliance and victory, Lt. Colonel Haile Gebru called on the youth to bequeath the shining history of their fathers and contribute their part in the nation building process.

Expressing satisfaction for observing first hand the area that their fathers demonstrated heroic feat to liberate the country, the participants expressed readiness to live up to the expectation in strengthening participation in the national development drives.

Tour To Nakfa hisTorical TreNches

MiNisTry of healTh: Public aNNouNceMeNT No.6

coNTrolliNg sPread of coroNa virus

foro healTh ceNTer

villages regrouPiNg iN karora

report indicated.

Speaking to Erina, health practitioners at the center stated that the health center that started with three members and limited equipment has being well equipped and staffed that it is providing commendable service to date.

The health practitioners further said that with the construction of maternity rooms, pregnant women are being extended with pre and post natal services and that as a result the number of pregnant women delivering in the health station has increased by

10% from that of last year. They also added that child vaccination coverage is increasing.

Noting the laboratory of the health center has been well equipped and is providing service, the professionals expressed strong belief that drugs and equipment will be provided in time considering the geographic location of Foro sub zone.

Staffed with 25 health practitioners, Foro health center is providing service to residents of Malka, Ayromale, Hadish, Zula, Afta and Foro administrative areas.

Dr. Hayelom went on to say that 12 temporary quarantine centers have been established in the borders with Ethiopia and the Sudan and one treatment center in Barentu with full facility.

Ha also added that various other measures are being taken to make sure that the directives issued by the Ministry of Health are put into effect.

Dr. Hayelom also called on the public to take precautionary measures, reinforce participation and people that returned home from countries affected by the pandemic to visit nearby health facilities to check their conditions.

2 Vol. 27 No. 9Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Kesete Ghebrehiwet

The construction of Gerset Dam some years back played a substantial role for the establishment of integrated farm activities in Gerset. As part of the wider farm areas of Golug sub-zone, Gerset has moved forward the expansion of farm activities in large scale around Gerset Dam.

Since its establishment in 2000, Gerset Farm Project has been expanded into various sections that include horticulture – fruits, vegetables, crops and animal feed -- and animal husbandry, Sesame, sorghum and maize are among the

most commonly grown during the rainy season.

Although the amount of water in the dam is sufficient for carrying out agricultural activities, the sustainability of the farms can only be ensured through judicious utilization of water. For this reason, drip irrigation is promoted to minimize wastage.

The farm project has three sections known as “Farm A”, “Farm B” and “Farm C” and around 110 hectares have been cultivated under the first section.

Tomato, onion, pumpkin and pepper have been grown in the vegetable section while orange, mango, grapefruit and lemon have been cultivated in the fruit section. The livestock resource department breeds camels, sheep, goats and cattle.

Gerset Farm has its own nursery station that supplies seedlings to the different sections and to other farm projects in Kerkebet and Gahtelay. A total of 19,397 seedlings are currently developed at the nursery station.

In the livestock section, 4.198 sheep, 306 cattle and 194 camels

have been raised in Gerset. Green animal feed has been grown to augment the number of livestock and to take animal husbandry to the next level.

As regards the current condition of fruits, Mr. Amine Tesfamichael, manager of Gerset Farm, said that there are 1,354 orange trees in 115 hectares, 7,059 mango trees in 150 hectares and 1,315 date

trees in seven hectares and 1,908 grapefruit trees. Besides, guava, papaya and other fruits have also been planted.

Mr. Amine noted that last year’s rainfall has positively impacted agricultural produce. Hence, around 10,000 quintals of sorghum and 400 quintals of millet were harvested.

Also, according to Mr. Amine,

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the tomato cultivated in around 40 hectares was taken to Alebu Banatom Factory to be processed and packed as paste. Onion has been cultivated in small scale through drip irrigation, and around 15 hectares of green animal feed has been making a difference in meeting timely demand.

Besides supplying fruits and crops to the market, Gerset Farm has been very instrumental in creating job opportunities for the inhabitants of the area. The people around Gerset Dam earn their living by working at the farm project. Around 300 people from Gerset, Golug and Tesenai have been working in the farm project on daily basis.

The animal husbandry department in Gerset Farm has been breeding cattle species known as Gerej that are local to Eritrea. The species are well accustomed to the area.

The livestock in Gerset Farm have been ensuring meat supply of boarding schools such as Warsay-Yikealo Senior Secondary School, institutions of higher education and other government bodies.

What is more, the association of fishermen from Fanko-Rawi and Fank-Tsum’e visited Gerset Dam and carried out fishing

continued on page 5

Gerset: integrated farm Project

Orange Tree in Gerset

Livestock in Gerset

Mr. Amine Tesfamichael


Sara Tesfay

The developments in the Horn region have left many seasoned analysts and media pundits scrambling to understand the complexity of the interlinked issues, so one cannot fault this chap, by the name of Naty Berhane Yifru, for the 26 March 2020 childish article posted on Ethiopia Insight.

His laughable, myopic and self-indulgent interpretations of events in the Horn of Africa come as no surprise to those of us who have followed developments in the region for decades. The author can’t walk a foot, let alone a mile, in the shoes of those he purports to analyze and no one knows it better than himself. He neither has the experience, nor the knowledge to understand the politics in his own country, let alone that of Eritrea, or even the region.

His infantile interpretations aside, what makes this Johnny come lately analysts is his inability to see what he has become - a tool, a surrogate, the “African face” for the likes of William Davidson and Martin Plaut, editors of Ethiopia Insight. That alone is enough to gauge the site’s caliber. But the author is not the first, nor will he be the last stooge, to be deployed to disparage Africans and belittle the efforts and sacrifices made by Africans to liberate themselves from the clutches of colonialism and neocolonialism. Anyone who has followed events in the last two decades would know the role that these two notorious individuals played to destabilize the region and prop up the TPLF minority regime in Ethiopia.

What this minion shares with Davidson and Plaut is, an obsessive fixation with Eritrea and its leadership. For whatever reasons, the change in the Horn region is not sitting well with those who were accustomed to calling the shots, feeding the narratives, steering the agendas, and in the last 20 years, none have mentally convulsed more than

Yifru, Plaut and Davidson - Now that is a humorous combination

Plaut and his ilk to undermine the leadership in Eritrea, only to fail, and get caught with their pants down and egg on their faces.

For the last two decades, research and reporting on Eritrea has been plagued by confirmation bias, a condition that makes otherwise normal individuals act irrationally, even to the point of madness. The author went on a wild expedition to seek out individuals known for anti-Eritrea flying goat analysis, to support his assertions about Eritrea and its leadership. It serves no real purpose to respond to this charlatan in great length, but a few glaring falsehoods in his paper need to be addressed, lest he feels emboldened to pen more.

Here is one that can be easily refuted. The author writes:

“…Though Isaias fought

for Eritrean nationhood, he often expressed his disdain for independence movements other than the one he led…”

Yet he provides no evidence. Worse, as if there were no other living sources available to corroborate his arguments, Yifru differs to two dead people, Meles Zenawi, the leader of the TPLF minority regime in Ethiopia, and Paul Henze a notorious TPLFite, and proceeds to present incoherent quotes from both. Many liberation movements, including the TPLF itself, have taken refuge in Eritrea. So it is perplexing that the author does not know the facts available right

under his nose.

He writes:

“…Tigray and a large chunk of Eritrea share the same ethnicity, culture, language, historical background, familial ties and psychological makeup…”

Not sure where he got that from, but judging from his past articles, he is prone to “cut and paste” anything that supports his erroneous assertions. There are ethnic groups found in both Eritrea and Ethiopia, just as there are ethnic groups straddling borders across Africa, but they all have distinct national identities-and Eritreans have their own.

It has become the norm for TPLFites to misconstrue and misrepresent President Isaias’ interviews and cry foul at every turn. Since the author claims they speak the same language, can’t blame this one on translation. So what is it that prevents them from fully grasping the essence of his words? Why strain their heads trying to give new meaning to his succinct words? And how about context?

Why try to drive a wedge between Eritrea and its neighbors? To what end? To revive TPLF? To undermine the positive efforts underway in Ethiopia to clean up the mess created by the TPLF’s 27 year-long misrule and entrenched culture of corruption? President Isaias and PM Abiy Ahmed are saying enough to brinksmanship and welcome cooperation and

partnership to bring peace, stability and security for their peoples. Where is the wrong in that?

Yes, the TPLF regime, its sponsors and lackeys went to great lengths to isolate Eritrea and prevent it from making modest contribution in the region. Millions were spent on orchestrated vilification and defamation campaigns that are found in volumes stored in halls of governments everywhere - collecting dust and reminding all that, once again, truth prevailed and Eritrea was exonerated by the UN. Despite the deluge, no evidence has ever been brought to support the allegations against Eritrea. None. What was presented to the UN turned out to be shameless fabrications by TPLF and its handlers. Unfortunately, it is analysts like Yifru who repeat falsehoods, advance repackaged narratives and omit inconvenient facts that are contributing to the conspiracy bias that has plagued reports on Eritrea.

The author ought to know that

Ethiopia was on the brink of implosion as a result of TPLFs policies. Ethnic and religious conflicts raged and ravaged Ethiopia and left millions internally displaced, village sand homes destroyed and cost the lives of thousands. The atrocities in Gambela, Ogaden and Oromia regions are but some of the grim reminders of the regime’s excesses. TPLF should not be threatened by Eritrea, but rather it should lay awake for many nights worrying about the wrath

Disclaimer: articles published in this column do not reflect the stance or opinion of Eritrea Profile

of the Ethiopian people. Eritrea’s President may occupy central stage in their daydreams, and even in their worst nightmares, but all that is in their warped and restless minds. The wrath of the Ethiopian people is real. Dismissing it as a “domestic trauma” is naïve.

Seems the author’s ego has gotten a small boost from the cyber high fives he received on Twitter; probably believes he has arrived; that he has done something no one has done before. He imagines himself some sort of hero for repeating tired narratives and getting a nod from his European patrons. But for Eritreans, it is neither here nor there and nothing that we have not seen, heard or read before.

The author proceeds:

“…The end game may be approaching in a long and bitter rivalry…”

I guess he missed the announcement…it has been GAMEOVER for TPLF for quite a while.

Finally, for the sake of the suffering people of Tigray, the author ought to do something constructive and within his league. He should join with his fellow Ethiopians and help the Ethiopian PM as he leads his nation in addressing the present and real threat-COVID-19. This virus is an equal opportunity discriminator that knows no boundaries, ethnic groups or political persuasions.

The ability to represent language graphically, to make language visible, stands as one of humanity’s greatest intellectual and cultural achievements. The invention of writing was man’s attempt to convert language into graphic meaning. By putting the spoken language in to visible material form people’s word began to be recorded, stored and read for decades and centuries and transmitted across different times and places.

Writing is perhaps the world’s most important information technology human beings have ever invented. It was invented around five thousand years ago and coincided with the introduction of humans’ fundamental civilizations. The earliest text was invented with the advent of state society. It was invented independently in the five civilized places -- China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and Mesoamerica. These five regions were at that time

Historical account of the Sabean Writing System in Eritrea

centers of great civilizations. Initially writing was invented to record what transpired during trading and to serve bureaucratic duties. Using reeds as pens, wedge-shaped marks on slabs of damp clay people began to record laws, letters, poems, and taxes. The evidence of writing found in Mesopotamia was a text of economic record which was used for trade and bureaucratic needs.

The writing system of South Arabia, too, came into being with trade exchange. North Arabia was rich in incense tree, natural plants, cardamom, cinnamon mastic, perfumed calms and valuable medicine plants like sugar cane and olive, and the products went for trade to the great market place of Canaan, Syria, which were much sought after by Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, Hittites and Cretesian. Later, it became a direct occupation of the South-Arabians. South-Arabia dominated the market and established

a supply station which led to the routes of different regions as well as population centers. As a result of these activities, South-Arabia seemed to have exercised political power. The land routes led one to Eastern Arabia, Mesopotamia and the other route to Western Arabia.

South-Arabia imported several goods that they could receive in the form of trade from the voyage of Canaan, Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia along with new elements of civilization in Gaza, but the most important import was writing. The South-Arabians learned in Gaza and in some other training centers of Canaan probably before the 11th century. They adapted the Canaanian writing system and modified it into their own writing system, the Sabean.

Sabean is a South Arabian writing system whose parent writing is proto Sinaitic scripts. Sabean writing system is a branch of the South-Arabian written language, which was spoken in Yemen between 1000 BC and the 6th century AD, by the Sabean people. The Sabaean language belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family, along many other languages found in the Arabian Peninsula, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia. The south Semitic, as a branch of the Semitic, is the ancestor of the languages that were used in the Arabian Peninsula and modern Eritrea and Ethiopia. In Eritrea the language is represented by the Semitic languages of Tigrigna and Tigre.

Sabean is written in south Arabic alphabet; it is marked only with consonant. In other words, the south Arabian script is a consonant


A Column prepared in collaboration with the Eritrea’s Culture and sports Commission

type of writing system which is used around the southern Arabian Peninsula. It departed from the proto Sinaitic script in 1300BC, but it was not confirmed until the 8th century BC. The oldest South-Arabian alphabet contained twenty nine signs representing twenty nine consonants of most of any attested Semitic language. Some scholars argue that the Sabean writing system emanated directly from the proto-Canaanite script in about 8th century BC, which descended from south Semitic.

The South-Arabian moved to the coastal areas especially the Assab, Edi, Beilul and other areas. Their motive was attributed to the spirit of adventure and the hunt for the large amphibians which once spread all over the Red Sea along with elephants and slaves. As the climate was similar to the climate

of their region, they easily adapted to the coastal area and settled there. The hot season of the coastal area from June to September forced the South Arabian people toward the highland, where it rains in the months of June through September. On the highlands the South Arabians engaged in farming and the region became a station of hunters, traders and farmers. There is high discovery of Sabean writing in the Adi-Qieh localities. Archaeologists have come to explore in the area and found numerous kinds of cursive South-

Arsema Ghebra

Arabian writing. The southern region of Eritrea, especially the Adi Qeih area, is endowed with a variety of archaic South-Arabian writing systems.

In Eritrea, evidence of the Sabean writing system, though difficult to trace, is found in several archaeological sites. A variety of scripts have been found in several places of the country, including Adi-Gramaten La’lay, Adi-Zban, Mororo, Gobo Fenseh and Fqiya Keskese. The inscription in these sites was written without any techniques. The direction of the line is from right to left or the reverse. The archaic Sabean inscriptions which are found in the Adi Qeih area are of the ancient Sabean writing system, and they are preceded with different kinds of symbols. Hence they do not exhibit any specialized writing, and their interpretation is still uncertain.

Archaeologists have argued that they have found two kinds of Sabean writing systems in the region -- the cursive writing and the quasi monument -- and they conclude that the Sabean inscriptions found in Adi Qeih region were not monumental but cursive writing that migrated from the Arabian Peninsula. So, these historical evidences along with the sites indicate a strong link of the South-Arabian people to our region. The link led the communities in our region to introduce the Sabean writing system which later evolved intto Geez script.

5

local news Vol. 27 No. 9Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The junior and High Schools in Akordet sub-zone, Gash Barka region, awarded outstanding students.

Speaking at the events, the Directors of the schools indicated that strong effort is being made to develop teaching-learning process and that the higher performance of the students is the result of that. They also called on parents and administrations to reinforce contribution for better outcome.

Noting the strengths and bottlenecks of the schools, Mr. Gebremicael Alazar, head of the Ministry of Education branch in the sub-zone, called for community initiative to preserve the strengths and find remedy to the bottlenecks.

Mr. Gebremichael also said that the objective of the award to outstanding students is to encourage the students and motivate other to follow their examples and called for its sustainability.

There are 25 elementary, 6 junior and 1 high school as well as 7 kindergartens and 58 adult education centers in Akordet sub-zone.

The Gerset agricultural project reported that it is providing employment opportunity to residents in the area as well as contributing in the fruits and vegetables supply to the local markets.

According to Mr. Amine Tesfamichael, manager of the project, the project is significantly contributing in the stabilization of the local markets and that this year alone the project has supplied three thousand quintals of tomatoes to the Banatom Factory in Alebu.

Pointing out that there are about 300 daily workers from nearby areas of the project, Mr. Amine said that alongside cultivation of vegetables and fruits the project is also engaged in planting tree seedlings and in dairy farming and animal fodder.

The employees on their part said that the project is significantly contributing in increasing their Knowledge in irrigation farming on to of contributing in their economic standard.

Inhabitants of Adebzega village, Dubarwa sub-zone, are conducting two km dirt road renovation activity connecting their village to Adi Baro.

Stating that the dirt road renovation popular campaign is machinery supported, Mr. Gebrehiwet Gerezgiher, area administrator of Adebzega, pointing the significant role of community based activities called on other villages to follow the foot step of the residents of Adebzega in renovating the roads interconnecting their villages.

Residents on their part, stating the renovation activity is aimed at alleviating transportation problems, stated that they are exerting extra effort to quickly complete the task.

Adebzega is located 13km north west to the town of Dubarwa.

awards To ouTsTaNdiNg sTudeNTs

gerseT agriculTural ProjecT

road reNovaTioN acTiviTy iN adebzage

Popular campaign aimed at renovating water diversion schemes of May-Nefhi dam as well as terracing activities in Daero-Pawlos, Misguag and Adibakokay villages, Gala Nefhi sub zone.

Speaking to Erina, Ms. Ruta Solomon, head of fresh water fish farming development in the Central region Marine resources branch and Mr. Tesfasilassie Araia, head of fresh water fish farming quality control, said that the popular campaign is a continuation of the community based activities being made in the sub-zone since 2018.

Stating that the objective of the campaign is to boost the quality and quantity fresh water fish farming by protecting the dams from silt, both heads of branches said that 54km long terraces were constructed within 17 days.

Mr. Tesfom Mesfin, forestation expert in the Ministry of Agriculture branch in the Gala Nefhi sub zone on his part, pointing the strong awareness of the residents of the sub zone on the importance of constructing terraces in soil and water conservation, said that tree seedlings will be planted in the constructed terraces.

In related news, renovation of water diversion schemes is being exerted in Adi-Shaka dam, the report stated.

The Eritrean National War-Disabled Veterans Association received material support from its branches in Germany and Sweden.

The association branches in Germany and Sweden extended material support worth 320 thousand Euros and 300 Euros respectively. The material support

galaNefhi: PoPular caMPaigN

MaTerial suPPorT To eNwdva

activities there to sell fish at the Tesenai market.

This year, veterinary service centers have been established at sub-zone level, and around 30,000 livestock have been vaccinated in different villages of Golug sub-zone. Besides vaccination, the veterinarians have also been giving technical assistance to farmers. Crops and livestock Corporation of Eritrea has freely provided vaccines and pesticides.

Mr. Amine said, “Sufficient supply of medicine and pesticides as well as adequate number of veterinary specialists boosts our confidence. Thus, we do not have any challenge in plant or animal health related issues.”

The administration of Gerset Farm has been working hand in hand with the farmers in the area. It has been assisting farmers by sending veterinary specialties

to their respective areas. A store in Golug, for instance, has been providing veterinary medicines and pesticides to farmers. The veterinary scientists in Gerset Farm have been working in collaboration with representative farmers. “We have been fostering good partnership with the farmers in the area,” Mr. Amine elaborated.

Mr. Amine said that soil fertility has been ensured through the use of natural manure while fine soil from river banks has also been added to the farmland.

The abundant water in Gerset Dam has been the reason for the

continued from page 2

Gerset: integrated . . .

included medical and sanitation materials, wheelchairs, beds among others.

Indicating that the support is in continuation of the similar support the association branches have been extending in support of the Eritrean National War-Disabled Veterans, Mr. Gebrebrhan Eyasu, Chairman of the association,

said that the support will have significant contribution in easing the daily lives of members.

Mr. Mohamed-Nur Idris, head of Organization and Information of the association, on his part said that the support extended by nationals attests to the respect they have on war disabled veterans.

commencement of varied farm activities. But the farm activities so far implemented are small given the larger amount of water available.

As regards future plans of Gerset Farm, Mr. Amine said that the establishment of seedling nursery station is part and parcel of expanding the farm project. “We are looking forward to expanding the farm project, but there are various determining factors that need to be considered such as infrastructure. There will be, for sure, new developments that go in line with the future plans of the Crops and Livestock Cooperation,” he reiterated.

Cattle in Gerset


Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following positions for Bisha site project: -

Position: Air Condition Technician1. Department: Process Stream/ Engineering Process plant Number Required: 01 (one)

PRIMARY PURPOSECarries out Installation and maintenance of all Air Conditioners and all kinds •of Cooling units on the Mine.

MAIN FUNCTIONSPlanning•Implementation of the plan•Reporting•

UNQUE REQUIRMENTS/ OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate employment age 55 years maximum and must be physically and •medically fit for work.Candidate must be able to recognize coloring of electrical conductors ( Visually •not Color blind).Must be able to work outside exposed to Heat ,wind and dusty environments •and must be able to work at Heights.Must be able to walk far distances to attend to Air conditioners in Housing or •plant Complex.Must be able to interpret electrical schematics and be electrically qualified up •to 380Vac 3 phase.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Qualifications:

Technical college Electrical/ Mechanical Diploma.•Technical college HVAC diploma.•

Knowledge and Experience:

3 - 5 years relevant experience•

Technical Skills

Computer Literacy (MS Office Intermediate).•Attention to detail, Problem solving and troubleshooting skill, Analytical skill •and Electrical experience and Natural Customer Service & Sales Skills.Knowledge of HVAC Safetv Standards and Protocols and Willingness to •Continue Learning About HVAC Technoloqies and Supervisory experience.

Behavioral Skills

Communication in English, Integrity and Self-motivation, High level of •accuracy, Prioritizing skills & multiskilling and Ability to work towards strict deadlines.

2.Position: Engineering Project Administrator Department: Engineering and Maintenance Number Required: 01 (one)PRIMARY PURPOSE

Assist the Engineering Projects Superintendent and Supervisors in managing •all project administrative work. This includes Document Control, Meeting organization, Time Sheet Management and Safety related matters on a daily basis. Responsible for executing routine/non-routine work within the context of •project progress policies, procedures and work practices, e.g. generate reports, recordkeeping, etc.

MAIN FUNCTIONS

Recording Projects Data & Control of project documents.•Reporting on Project Administrative matters.•Planning and Implementation of Document Control.•Organize project electronic and hard copy files for easy traceability. •

•Knowledge, Experience and skills

VacancY annoUnceMenT

Qualifications:Tertiary Qualification in Administration or equivalent.•Qualification or Competency in Computer literacy (Navision, Access and •Microsoft Office suite).English Proficiency (Mandatory).•

Technical Skills

Computer Literacy (MS Office suite), Attention to detail, Problem solving skill, •Analytical skill and Financial Management Skills.

•Behavioral Skills

Communication (English), Assertiveness, Interpersonal Relations, Integrity •and Discretion, Prioritization skills & multi-skilling, Ability to work towards strict deadlines and Self-motivation.

3. Position: Water Laboratory Technician Department: Environment Number required: One (01)

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Responsible for ensuring that the monitoring schedule is completed on •schedule. Train laboratory staff in good practice. Undertake basic analysis as required and prepare samples for laboratory analysis by external laboratory.

MAIN FUNCTIONS

1. Procedure Control.2. Laboratory Analysis.3. Writing Reports.4. Supervise team.

Knowledge, Experience and skills

Qualifications

Diploma ( Chemistry, Chemical Technology, Science or related field )•Knowledge and Experience.•2 – 3 years analytical laboratory experience with water exposure•

Technical Skills

Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate, Excel – Advanced) and •understanding relevant legislation.Good understanding of National legislation & standards and data management •and Analytical skill , problem solving & Admin skills

Behavioural Skills

Communication (English and local language) and assertiveness, Interpersonal •relations, Integrity, ability to work towards strict deadlines, prioritizing skills and multi-skilling High level of accuracy and discretion and Self-motivation

General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.Salary: As per Company salary scale.Type of Contract: Indefinite

Additional requirements for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present clearance paper from current/last employer.Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).Only shortlisted applicants will be considered as potential candidates for an interview.Application documents will not be returned to sender.All applications should be sent through the post office.Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper. Address: Please mail your applications to; Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea Note to Non - Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment permits Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

7

Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following

position for Bisha site project.

1.Position: Crane and ForkliftTrainee

Department: Engineering and Maintenance

Section: Engineering Process Plant

Number required: One (01)

Primary Purpose

Participate within the department and perform regular •Safety inspections, plan work ahead of schedule and perform regular pre checks on equipment before use. Identify relevant parts required for repairs and report to direct line Supervisor. Operate equipment in a safe manner assisting other departments and disciplines to perform work during normal hours or as reasonably requested from direct Supervisor during breakdowns as well.

Main Functions

Planning•Implementation operating Crane and Forklift•Reporting•

Unique requirements / other information

The Candidate must be physically medically fit.•The Candidate must be able to learn in order to be •able to be found competent during training period of 6 months. Must be able to complete theory training successfully in •3 months and practical training 3 months in order to be considered as successful for entry level Crane and Forklift Operator.The Candidate must be able to work at heights.•The candidate must have a valid grade 3 license or •higher.

Qualifications:

Grade 12 for locals (Technical school )•Grade 3 driving license minimum•

Knowledge and Experience:

5+ years relevant experience in Forklift or Cranes•

Driving vehicle or truck exoerience•

Technical SkillsGood eye sight•Attention to detail•Analytical skill•Good hand eye coordination•Problem Solving skill•Understanding to load chart•

Behavioural Skills

Communication (English)•Self-motivation•Interpersonal Relations•Integrity•Prioritizing skills & multi-skilling•Ability to work towards strict deadlines•High level of accuracy•Assertiveness•

General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.Salary: As per Company salary scale.Type of Contract: Indefinite

Additional requirement for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present clearance paper from current/last employer.Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.)Only shortlisted applicants will be considered as potential candidates for an interview.Application documents will not be returned to sender.All applications should be sent through the post office.Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to; Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to Non - Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment permits Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

VacancY annoUnceMenT

Vol. 27 No. 9Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, April 1, 2020


National Health Laboratory’s Role to Control C OVI D-19Asmait Futsumbrhan

As the pandemic keeps on spreading throughout the world, COVID-19 cases in Eritrea have reached 15. The lab technicians at the National Health laboratory are working day and night to identify new cases and control the virus. We talk to Sereqe Tesfatsion, Head of the Quality Control Service at the National Laboratory, on the role of the laboratory.

Mr. Sereqe, would you please share with us some of your memories of the work the lab carried out during the armed struggle?

Just like everything else during the armed struggle. The laboratory that we had at the fields had limited capacity and resources. However, despite oaur limitations, every one worked with the ultimate dedication to deliver. Most of the work was done manually and required a lot of time, which is one of the reasons all the staff members used to work day and night. I believe that, given the circumstances at the time, the lab used to do a great job and it actually became the base for today’s National Health Laboratory.

National Health Laboratory after independence…

Similar with every part of the country, the National Laboratory was just standing as a lab with almost nothing in it. After independence, the Ministry of Health (MoH) relentlessly worked to enhance the health service capacity of the country generally. And just like all health sectors, the MoH made efforts to install high tech lab tools and empower the lab technicians through training courses.

The National Health Laboratory’s main objective is to ensure that all labs across the country are giving efficient service to the public. It is responsible to provide the labs with tools they need and make sure that the lab technicians are competent. It also works to enhance the capacity of its professionals through courses and workshops. As most of the health services institutions include their own labs, the

National Laboratory looks at the services being given and gives out guidelines all the labs should follow to provide quality service to the public. It is also where numerous difficult diagnoses are carried out if they require unique techniques and sophisticated high tech lab materials.

The National Lab’s role in connection with COVID-19…

As we all know, since the outbreak of the new virus, COVID-19, many countries have been taking measures to control it. From the time the virus was spotted in China and knowing how fast it could spread, the Ministry of Health has been making preparations. Since the virus is new, it needs new technologies and tasting tools, which our lab didn’t have. However, the Ministry of Health did a tremendous job getting the tools and bringing foreigners to teach the lab technicians how to properly use the tools. The courses weren’t that difficult as the high-tech lab tools were similar to the tools we used to work with.

To be honest, most countries were sending their samples to other countries because they didn’t have the tools required when the virus first hit their respective country. But Eritrea was prepared and has been carrying out its own examinations from the beginning. And since the first COVID case was found on the 21st of March, all the National Lab members have been working relentlessly to check if there are more cases. And we have identified 15 cases, which are all imported. All patients are being taken care of and are in good condition. At the beginning, we didn’t have many people from outside the country; so, we didn’t have many samples

to test. But now, as the number of infected people is increasing, we are busy working on samples.

Are the new testing tools available in the regional hospital labs?

At the moment, the new testing kits are only available at the

National Health Laboratory. However, the MoH is working to add more testing tools and if the number of cases seems to rise, the ministry plans to distribute the tools to the regions. As I said before, as this virus is new, many new testing techniques are being developed by the day. And we are all working to do our best and,

hopefully, all the regions would get the tools so that the public could be tested within their region.

Anything else before we conclude our interview?

The public should be given sufficient awareness

through campaigns and timely information. We have to give information on how this virus can spread and infect people. Also, people should know all the symptoms and should be able to identify them. Individuals should

take responsibility for themselves as well as the community. As the media play a big part in controlling the pandemic, I believe that they should give all timely information; that is a way to control the spread.

vol. 27 no. 9 wednesday, april 1, 2020 pages 8,...

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