Addis Ababa | October 21, 2026
Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO) held a highly productive consultative meeting with the executive leadership of the Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority (AAFDA), including Director General Mrs. Tigist Bedada Gemachu, Deputy Director General of Regulatory Sector Mr. Enga Erketa Limaga, and senior technical experts at the AAFDA Headquarters.
During the bilateral session, Executive Director of MCDO and National Chapter Coordinator of ISSUP Ethiopia, Mr. Elias Kalayu Abrha, expressed warm congratulations to the executive leadership team on their appointments, reaffirming MCDO’s commitment to supporting AAFDA’s public health mandates.
The strategic dialogue focused on key joint priorities aimed at advancing public health interventions:
- Addis Ababa Smoke-Free Initiative (AASFI) & Block-Level Implementation: Reinforcing city-wide tobacco control measures to safeguard communities from second-hand smoke exposure. The dialogue particularly emphasized leveraging AAFDA’s block-level organizational framework across residential, recreational, and workplace environments to maximize public health gains and significantly reduce tobacco exposure.
- ISSUP Ethiopia National Chapter Initiatives: Strengthening institutional capacities, promoting evidence-based curricula, facilitating professional knowledge exchange, and integrating international best practices into substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery systems.
The executive leadership of AAFDA commended MCDO and ISSUP Ethiopia for their steadfast dedication to public health, expressing full commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and delivering impactful community-centered outcomes.
MCDO remains dedicated to collaborating with key government institutions and development partners to foster healthier, safer, and resilient communities.