Ethiopian National Public Health Training Center Officially Inaugurated

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia–The Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s (EPHI) National Public Health Training Center is officially inaugurated and handed over to EPHI on March 28, 2017. This the first state-of-the-art training center is constructed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the fund from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Dr. Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, Peter H. Vrooman, Chargé d’affaires U.S. Embassy Ethiopia, Dr. Rebecca Martin, Director of Global Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, members of the house of representatives of the Government of Ethiopia, staff of EPHI and other invited guests attended the inauguration ceremony.

Dr. Ebba Abate Director General of EPHI, in his welcoming speech mentioned about the long and strong relationship between EPHI and the American government as well as its citizens that goes back to 1922.

“The establishment of this center, in general, will strengthen the technical, scientific, managerial and leadership competencies of the current and future public health workforce in Ethiopia to ensure local capacity to deliver high quality essential public health services. It will do this by providing training opportunities for current and future practitioners at public health agencies throughout Ethiopia,” said Dr. Ebba.

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Dr. Kebede Worku also in his key note address indicated the good relationship with the American government and its people, and mentioned the Training Center’s vital role in enhancing the country’s public health professionals, research, surveillance and laboratory capacity.

Mr. Vrooman in his part said that the relationship between the two countries will further continue and strengthened.

“We have been collaborating with Ethiopia not only in the health sector but also other areas. And this for sure will continue,” said Mr. Vrooman.

The training center will provide a venue for other institutions including the Ministry of Health, universities, and international health organizations to strengthen their collaborative engagement in the areas of research and training as part of ongoing efforts to prepare Ethiopia’s national healthcare workforce to meet the needs of the population and to enhance the capacity to identify and prevent the spread of infectious disease.

The National Public Health Training Center is constructed at a cost of 150 million birr.

Source: EPHI
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