EPHIA Survey Close Out Ceremony

The ceremony to close Ethiopia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (EPHIA) survey was held on 30 April 2018, in Addis Ababa, at GETFAM Hotel.

EPHIA, is a research project and measurement of HIV infections in Ethiopia. It is part of the Ethiopian government’s nationwide effort to fully improve management of HIV by 2020.

Before opening the event officially, master of the ceremony Mr. Semegnew Alem, Deputy Director of EPHA, asked all the participants to take a minute of silence for the untimely death of Sr. Haregewoin Taeme a young team member of data collectors, who died in a car accident.

The main objective of this ceremony was to review the achievements of the survey over the past nine months and also to share lessons learned throughout the implementation.

On his opening remarks, Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen, Executive Director of the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA), welcomed all the participants.

He appreciated and thanked all the participants of the survey for their earnest endeavor during the tiresome data and blood collecting processes.

On the occasion, the overview of the field operation process were presented by EPHIA project coordinator, Mr. Terefe Gelibo, who summarized the survey team and community mobilization activities, challenges and achievements. 

Experiences and lessons from the field work were also presented by Dr. Hailegnaw Eshete EPHIA Project Director, who explained all the regional coordination, community mobilization, data and blood collection and the transportation field team accomplishments during the survey period.

The project lead, Professor Sileshi Lulseged, on his part, explained the team performance with a due focus on the quality of collected data. He also reviewed challenges and results of the survey implementation.  

During the ceremony, survey coordinators, team leaders, data collectors, Lab. supervisors and EPHIA support team members were accredited by certificate of recognition through Dr. Jeff Hanson CDC Country Director and Dr. Zenebe Melaku ICAP Country Director.  

Dr. Tsigereda Kifle, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute /EPHI/, on her closing remarks, congratulates all the participants who took part at this historic country wide survey. “It is a great opportunity to mark a print as part of a global strategy to end HIV/ADIS by 2030.” She added. 

At this national survey, data were collected from 393 Enumeration Areas (EAs) in urban Ethiopia. About 11,810 selected households were included in this survey. Over 300 participants were present at the ceremony.           

EPHA celebrates the 19th Cohort LSI Training Graduation

The Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) held the Graduation Ceremony of the 19th Cohort Training on Leadership in Strategic Information (LSI) on 27th March 2018 at Desta International Hotel, Mekelle. The training has covered three modules in six months and a total of 21 trainees were graduated.

The objective of the training has been to help health professionals develop their capacity in using strategic information to improve skills for the needs assessment, planning, and monitoring and evaluation of the comprehensive interventions and activities to combat HIV and its consequences at all levels.

On the occasion, three concurrent sessions were organized for trainees to present the findings of their researches followed by reflections on questions and comments forwarded by respective examiners and the participants. In addition, group based Monitoring & Evaluation plans were presented and important discussion points were turned up. Eventually, a general discussion focusing on the general performance of the program was led by Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen, Executive Director of EPHA. He reemphasized the very objective of the training and the need to cascading it through ownership of the Regional Health Bureau, and steered the discussion as he invited the participants, mentors, examiners and other participants for reflections. He then gave a close to the discussion capitalizing on the need to sustaining the training program.

The event was concluded with certificate award to the trainees and a closing remark by Mr. Teame Zegeye, representative from the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, the guest of honor. Mr. Teame appreciated the trainees, course facilitators and the coordinator for their commitment to bring the program into fruition and stressed on the importance of well-toned information in the health sector as well as in the fight against HIV/AIDS.