January 31, 2022

Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Director General

World Health Organization, WHO

Geneva, Switzerland

RE: An International Appeal for SARS-COV-2 Vaccines allocation for Eritreans

Dear Dr. Tedros Adhanom:

The undersigned exiled and Diaspora Eritrean medical and health professionals appeal to you to urgently allocate vaccines against Covid-19 to Eritrea from the COVAX program.

We agree with WHO that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global problem that warrants a global response. We recognize vaccines against SARS-COV-2 are the most promising tools available to curb the pandemic.  The establishment of the COVAX program is a step in the right direction to guarantee fair and equitable access to these life saving vaccines throughout the world, particularly to poor countries such as Eritrea.

Unfortunately, Eritrea is the only African country that has not joined the COVAX program, depriving Eritreans access to these life saving vaccines. Such brazen behavior not only puts the Eritrean people in danger, but also is a weak link in a global strategy to combat the pandemic. It serves as fertile ground for the emergence of mutants or new variants. The emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants lends a learning lesson on how these and future variants could challenge the efficacy of the existing vaccines and our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the Eritrean government’s abnegation of its responsibility to its own people, we, the undersigned, on behalf of the affected Eritrean community, call upon your office to receive our appeal within WHO’s community engagement framework and allocate Covid-19 vaccines to Eritreans without waiting on its government to petition GAVI for its quota.

A significant number of Eritreans, unfortunately, are found in neighboring countries as refugees. We would like to remind your esteemed office that these refugees also need equal attention. We may use this opportunity to express our readiness to collaborate with WHO in facilitating the distribution and administration of vaccines to Eritrean refugees in Sudan and other parts of the world.

 We thank you,

CC:      Dr. John Nkengasong, Director

            Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Respectfully,

List of Signatories

1. Abdalla Gema Idris, MBCHB, Public Health Practitioner - Australia
2. Abdulla Gieme, MD, General Practitioner - Australia
3. Abiel Tsegai, Pharm.D, Pharmacist - USA
4. Aida Asmelash, MD, Physician - USA
5. Amanuel Kehasse, PharmD, PhD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist USA
6. Amanuel Misghina Abreha, MD, Internal Medicine -USA
7. Aron Hagos Tesfai, PhD, Social Psychology - South Africa
8. Asjad Abdalla Ebrahim Edrees, MD, Medicine - Sudan
9. Askal Ytbarek, RN, Nurse - USA
10. Asmeret Gebremariam, MD, Gynecology & Obstetrics - Germany
11. Assefaw Tekeste, MD, PhD, Public Health Specialist - USA
12. Aster Sebhatu, RN, Nurse - USA
13. Astier Alem, MD, Nephrologist - USA
14. Awolkheir M Nurhussein, MD, Internal Medicine - UK
15. Berhane Seyoum, MD, MPH, Endocrinologist - USA
16. Beyene Tewelde, MD, Internal Medicine - USA
17. Biniam Kifle, Physician Assistant - USA
18. Dawit Sahle, RN, Neurosurgical Nurse - USA
19. Degol Dessie, MD -General Physician - Canada
20. Elsa Tekle, MD, Anesthesiologist - USA
21. Eseyas Tsehaye, MD, Physician - USA
22. Feseha Woldu, MSc, PhD, Health Care Administration - USA
23. Fithi Embaye, LISW, Doctoral student - USA
24. Gebremedhin Yohannes, MD, Internal Medicine - USA
25. Habteab Feseha, MD. Cardiologist - USA
26. Habtom Habte, PhD, Drug and vaccine discovery Scientist -USA
27. Haddish Tesfayohannes Hagos, MD, Anesthesiologist - USA
28. Haikel Negash, RPh., MS., Pharmacist - USA
29. Haile Debas, MD, UCSF Chancellor &Dean of Medicine, Emeritus - USA
30. Hailemichael Yosief, PhD, Pharmacist - USA
31. Henok Tsegai, Pharm.D, Pharmacist - USA
32. Hermon Mesfin, FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner - USA
33. Isayas Haileab Bayru, MD, General medicine & Anesthesiologist - Germany
34. Jerusalem Tesfay, PhD, Preventive Healthcare Researcher - USA
35. Kebreab Yimesgen, MA, Social worker - USA
36. Khalid Beshir, MSc., PhD, Infectious diseases - UK
37. Khalifa Salih Mohamed, MD, Gastroenterologist - Sudan
38. Khedijah Ali Mohammed-Nur, RN, Community Public Health - UK
39. Kheiria Adem, RN, Nurse - Canada
40. Lemlem Weldemichael, MD, General Practitioner - USA
41. Lion M Elias, MSN, Nurse Hospital Supervisor - USA
42. Luwam Gebremichael, RN, Nurse - USA
43. Merhawit Abraha, Pham.D, Pharmacist - USA
44. Michael Kesete, PhD., Health Economist - USA
45. Michael Teckle, RN, Nurse - Canada
46. Mussie Tekle Sibhatu, DDS, Dentist - USA
47. Petros Okubazgi, MD - USA
48. Samrawit Medhanie, PhD(c), Psychologist - USA
49. Samson Berhe, RPh, Pharmacist - USA
50. Senait Sebhatu, RN, Nurse - USA
51. Senait Negassi, PharmD, Pharmacist - USA
52. Tedros Amanuel, MD, General Medicine - Sweden
53. Teklab Gebregiworgis, PhD, Biomedical Researcher - Canada
54. Tekle Zewolday, RN, Nurse - USA 
55. Tesfay Welday, Biomedical Scientist - Sweden
56. Winta Desta, PT, MScPT - Canada  
57. Yacob Tekie, Ph.D., Psychologist - USA
58. Yodit Tesfay, RN, MDS, Coordinator - USA
59. Yohannes Ferdinado Drar, MSW, Clinical Social Worker -Canada
60. Yohannes Haile, PhD, Biomedical & Regulatory Scientist - Canada
61. Yordanos T Habtemariam, Pharm.D, RPh, Pharmacist - USA
62. Zenebesh Melke, RN, Nurse - USA
63. Zerabruke Gebremariam, MD, Neurologist and Psychiatrist - Germany