EPHA Formed Training and Research Advisory Group (TRAG)

Chaired by Dr Filimona Bisirat, president of EPHA, the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) formed a Training and Research Advisory Group (TRAG) that consist of 14 resource persons having extensive and practical experience in undertaking researches and managing training programs.

The formation of the Training and Research Advisory Group of EPHA took place on June 6, 2014 where Ato Tesfa Demilew, the Research Training and Publication Director of EPHA, presented the existing status and future directions of the EPHA’s Training and Research Functions, and the steps taken in establishing the TRAG, as a sort of back ground.

Accordingly, a thorough deliberation was followed by the group members on a range of issues including but not limited to the concurrence between the EPHA’s TRAG plan and the FMoH’s current initiative of institutionalizing all research and training activities, the existing capacity of EPHA to serve as a research and training center of excellence, the research thematic areas and the existing internal capacity of EPHA to undertake the growing research and training demands.

EPHA Partakes at the Continental Health Conference Organized by US Doctors for Africa and People to People in AU

The Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) entrusted twenty-five of its members to the continental conference held in the African Union Conference Center from May 21-23, 2014 where delegates represented by EPHA reflected professional and scientific views in response to the 21st century health challenges of the continent of Arica.

Officially opened by the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Dr Mulatu Teshome and the Secretary General of African Union, the conference deliberated on major public health agendas of the continent dealing towards mobilizing efforts for the health sector development of Africa through triangulation among government, Diaspora and non-governmental organizations.

Such a triangulation effort was caused by the main reason to tackle emerging and traditional public health problems in Africa those including infectious disease, non-communicable diseases maternal and child health issues.

To result in successful health sector development, African governments are responsible to enable the environment attractive for public health investment and the Diaspora group and non-governmental organizations are expected to support governments initiative in order to reduce over expectation and unnecessary burden on governments.

It was said that African natives Diaspora in Europe and North America are surprisingly large in number and are engaged in different professional services. These people are equipped with special skill that can benefit their continent; hence it was underscored that it is a high time to pool these rich resource to respond to African health problems.

Special health care service for the African people in the form of Tele -medicine, mobile clinic and skill transfer were suggested to be initiated as the most practical methods in saving the lives of the poor African people.

Lastly US Doctors for Africa, People to People and different delegates represented from various organizations came together and formed a Pan African Health Care Association which is responsible to improve the well-being of the people of the continent.

EPHA Raises Climate Change as a Matter of Public Health Agenda

EPHA has raised climate change as one of the most identified public health agenda and priority focus area for its future interventions. This was said at a research capacity building workshop held in Addis Ababa on the prime global topic of climate change with special attention to climate variability and changes and implications for malaria control and elimination in Africa, from April 28 to 30, 2014 at the Siyonat hotel.

The primary objectives of the workshop were to showcase available information and tools to support the research community to explore the impact of climate variability and change on malaria prevalence and to elicit discussion on current needs and recommendations for improved decision-making.