EVALUATING MALARIA AND THE IMPACT OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA THROUGH A ONE HEALTH PROSPECTIVE

Abstract

In Ethiopia, the potential to be infected with malaria may increase this decade due to the expected increases in available breeding habitats created by the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its reservoir as well as internal displacement and forced migration of tens of thousands of people due to the flooding of local communities by the filling of the GERD’s reservoir and ongoing civil conflict in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. A One Health framework was used in this research along with refugee migration and resettlement information and, risk evaluation tools to assess the potential health effects of the construction and filling of the GERD and its reservoir in Western Ethiopia on the burden of malaria and the human population living in the same area. This thesis shows Anopheles mosquitoes that are the primary vector of malaria are present in Western Ethiopia and present an entomological surveillance tool that can be implemented in the region. The author also considers the human population movement and illustrate the current vulnerabilities of the various groups involved.