Unity University Staff Celebrate Annual Mesqel Demera Festival 2015 (eth.c)

Mesqel Demera is an annual religious festival of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, which commemorates the finding of the True Cross. Through time, however, the event has also developed into a cultural mass gathering whereby people from all walk of life come together to celebrate the end of the rainy season and subsequent advent of the bright sunny days. As such, the event has been recognised by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO). Unity University has made it a tradition to celebrate Mesqel Demera festival annually. Accordingly, this year’s event was celebrated on September 26, 2022, in the compound of Unity Academy Gerji Branch. The staff started to flock to the place from 11:00am.Tents, decorated with colourful balloons and “qetema” as well as the “Adey Abeba” (a kind of flower endemic to Ethiopia and appears only during the Mesqel time), were erected on the Campus ground.
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Upon arrival, the staff greeted each other with words of good wishes, “Enquan Adereseh/sh!” Besides the bigger tents meant to shelter the staff, there was a smaller tent for the traditional coffee ceremony. Closer to this tent, there was the “Demera”, with the “Chibo” (dry wooden sticks bundled together) put around a taller tree in the middle. The festive mood was further boosted by the traditional music, reflecting the event, played from the Sound System. When the Guest of Honour, Dr. Arega Yirdaw, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unity University, and his entourage (high-ranking officials of the University) arrived on the scene, they were welcomed by a group of female staff clad in the colourful national white dress. The group was dancing to the tune of the popular New Year song, “Yeselam Yihunlin”, and the traditional girls’ New Year song, “Abeba Ayeshwoy”.
In his Good Wish address, Dr. Arega pointed out,“It is good to occasionally get together like this; and we should make it a tradition.Now, the tradition has taken root and will continue whether we are there or not.” He further noted that the just ended year was filled with challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the problem with MIDROC Technology Group. Dr. Arega also mentioned the positive developments, such as the collaborative efforts in the recent registration of students; and expressed his gratitude to all those who played active role in the process. He further talked about the 39th Batch Graduation Ceremony, which was held in the Millennium Hall; and noted that it was disruptedduring the past two years due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. In his concluding remarks, the University President underscored that the staff should be forward-looking with the past left behind. He said, “Teamwork should prevail in all aspects of activities. There needs to be transparency. We need to be supportive of each other. We should try to be part of the solution rather than being part of the problem. We should aspire to exert concerted efforts to register success.”
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As part of the programme, there were various activities, including slicing of the traditional “Difo Dabbo”, the coffee ceremony, poetry recital, and drama depicting equality of women. Subsequently, lunch was served and there were games. The programme was also highlighted by marking the Birthday of Dr. Arega Yirdaw.This was followed by active participation of the audience in the traditional dance “Eskista” to the tune of songs played from the Sound System. Moreover, there was also time for reflections on the event forwarded by participants. The event culminated with the Guest of Honour and participants walking around the “Mesqel Demera” singing the song “Yeselam Yihunlin”.

A visit from Ambassador of Cuba to Ethiopia, H.E. Jorge Lefebre to Unity University

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H.E. Ambassador Jorge Lefebre, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on May 5, 2022, visited facilities of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Unity University, and discussed with high-level Management of the University about areas of future collaboration. Upon arrival at the University Al-Amoudi Campus, Gerji, H.E. the Ambassador was accorded warm welcome by Dr. Tesfaye Teshome, Senior Vice President, Quality Assurance and Audit, Student Affairs and Relations, the Dean and staff of the Faculty of Health Sciences, as well as other staff of the University. The half-day programme was organised by the Community Services, Student Affairs and Relations Unit of the University.
Dr. Tesfaye welcomed the visiting Ambassador and extended the apologies of Dr. Arega Yirdaw, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unity University who was not able to attend the meeting due to other pressing engagement. Dr. Tesfaye underscored the long years of cooperation between Ethiopia and Cuba. He also pointed out that Cuba has a wealth of experience in Community Healthcare Services, an area Unity University would like lessons from. Following brief introduction with the University staff,H.E. the Ambassador expressed his pleasure in visiting Unity University. He said, “Wherever I go, I am interested in visiting universities; because, they are places where we get future leaders.” He went on to note that Ethiopia and Cuba have long years of relations, even in war. He said, “We appreciate Ethiopian heroes. We also sent a large contingent of doctors and medical personnel; because, Ethiopia needed them.”
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H.E. the Ambassador visited various facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and offices, of the Faculty of Health Sciences, with the assistance of Ato Mellesse Gebre, Dean of the Faculty. This was followed by extensive discussion on areas of future collaboration between Unity University and medical universities of Cuba.Dr. Tesfaye kicked-off the discussion by expressing the fact that it is good to have ties with other universities and countries. He said, “Collaboration is two-way. Unity University, too, has something to contribute.”On his part, H.E. Ambassador Lefebre underscored that health is one area Cuba has to offer. He said, “We have the expertise. Cuba has demonstrated dramatic decline in COVID-19, which has now been brought under control. We also have the experience of cooperation.
We have doctors with a wealth of experience in foreign, especially developing countries.” H.E. the Ambassador pointed out that there are around 10, 000 scholarship students in Cuba, especially from Africa. H.E. the Ambassador further elaborated on the situation of the Health Sector in the Republic of Cuba. He said that Cuba had developed its own Health System based on discussion with patients. He said, “We have developed a strong Primary Healthcare Service.” In this connection, H.E. the Ambassador noted that there is an annual International Health Convention organised by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, with the motto “”Cuba-Health 2022”, and Trade Fair, “Health for All”, to be held from October 17 to 21, 2022.
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In this connection, H.E. Ambassador Lefebresuggested Unity University to send a representative to attend the Convention. “This”, he said, “will help to identify areas of future collaboration.” He further recommended that Unity University drafts a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would stipulate the areas and modalities of collaboration.“I am happy with what I sawhere. You have the capacity; you have the potential; and a large number of students”, H.E. the Ambassador concluded.
Dr. Arega Yirdaw, who later joined the meeting, said that he had known Cuba for long; and added, “With all the challenge from US Administration, you have developed a strong Health System.” He also briefly talked about the University Faculty of Health Sciences. He said, “Our desire is to turn out nursescapable of competing in the market. We need to have something different with your assistance. Areas of cooperation could be helping us with equipment. Your Professors will also be helpful.”
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Unity students and staffs donating blood

The Faculty of Health Sciences, Unity University, organised Blood Donation Week in collaboration with the National Blood Bank Services (NBBS). In the course of the six-day programme, which was organised on the grounds of Al-Amoudi Campus, Gerji, the NBBS managed to collect 259 units of blood, mainly from students and the University staff. The organiser on NBBS side expressed her gratitude for the sincere cooperation of the University and its students.
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Meskel (Demera) Celebration 2014(eth.c)

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unity University staff and Management celebrated the colourful annual Mesqel Demera festival on September 24,2021, in the compund of unity academy,gerji branch. welcome the staff and officials of the University Management. There was another small tent, which housed facilities of the traditional Coffee Ceremony, which involved the "Rekebot", with rows of coffee cups, and the aroma of incense; and, ofcourse, the "Demera".
All shades were decorated with the beautiful "AdeyAbeba", the yellow flower, which is endemicto Ethiopia and comes only around the beginning of Ethiopian New Year. On top of that, there was the melody of traditional festive Ethiopian music from the University music team. The afternoon of September 24,2021 ,the whole compound of Unity Academy, Gerji Branch, was In a colourful festive mood. There were two huges Shades in place with lines of plastic seats to When it comes to the human element, there were female staff of the University and Unity Academy, clad in their colourful traditional dresses, who added special colour to the festivity. The staff flocking to the venue were In festive mood, too, wish in geach other Happy New Year and Mesqel Demera. The seats in the shades were arranged in sucha way that COVID-19 protocol was kept.
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