AMN Plus-June 6, 2026
Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie has officially inaugurated Ethiopia’s first state-of-the-art DNA, Forensic and Toxicology Center of Excellence at Menelik II Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Mayor stated that the center will eliminate the substantial costs and hardships previously faced by citizens who were compelled to travel abroad for DNA and forensic examinations.
She noted that, alongside expanding curative healthcare services, the city administration has prioritized disease prevention and public health initiatives, achieving significant progress in making Addis Ababa cleaner, healthier, and more livable through reduced environmental pollution.
The Mayor also highlighted that, of the four modern hospitals constructed by the city administration over the past five years, two are already providing services, while the remaining two are expected to become operational soon.
According to Mayor Adanech, the newly inaugurated center reflects the administration’s commitment to responsible utilization of public resources, noting that 72 percent of the city’s budget has been allocated to public service delivery.
She emphasized that the facility will not only meet Ethiopia’s growing demand for advanced medical and forensic services but will also reduce the need for citizens to seek such services abroad.
The center is also expected to serve foreign diplomats, employees of international organizations based in Ethiopia, tourists, and investors by providing reliable and internationally competitive medical and forensic services.
Mayor Adanech described the project as a symbol of Ethiopia’s progress toward greater prosperity, technological advancement, and self-reliance in specialized scientific services.
Equipped with modern forensic chemistry and toxicology laboratories, the center can detect even minute traces of poisons, drugs, and alcohol that were previously difficult to identify in local medical institutions.
One of its most remarkable features is the integration of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, enabling analyses that once took weeks to be completed in as little as 30 minutes.
The Center of Excellence has the capacity to accommodate and preserve up to 80 bodies simultaneously and has already commenced operations using eight automated machines and mobile X-ray equipment.
By Birhanu Workneh
