Carter Center Ethiopia Conducts Official Visit to EPHI’s Onchocerciasis Molecular Laboratory
A delegation from the Carter Center Ethiopia, led by its Country Director Dr. Zerihun Tadesse, conducted an official visit to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s (EPHI) Onchocerciasis Molecular Laboratory on November 17, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to review the utilization and impact of the support provided for the laboratory and to observe ongoing activities related to onchocerciasis surveillance and elimination. The delegation was formally received by Dr. Mesay Hailu, DirectorMolecula General of EPHI, who delivered a welcoming address. In his remarks, Dr. Mesay outlined the InOnchocerciasis Molecular Laboratorystitute’s mandate, key achievements, and its strategic role in national public health research and surveillance. He further emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration with development partners in advancing Ethiopia’s disease elimination agenda.
Following the opening session, the delegation toured the Onchocerciasis Molecular Laboratory of EPHI. Dr. Geremew Tassew, Director of the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Directorate, provided an overview of laboratory functions, core activities, and progress achieved to date. He highlighted the laboratory’s contributions to evidence generation for national onchocerciasis elimination efforts.
Also present during the visit was Dr. Getachew Tollera, Deputy Director General of EPHI, who underscored the significance of the engagement, noting that such visits play a central role in strengthening institutional partnerships and enhancing coordinated program implementation between EPHI and the Carter Center Ethiopia.
In addition, Ato Bacha Mekonnen, a Researcher within the NTD Directorate, presented the laboratory’s technical procedures and operational achievements to the delegation.
The Onchocerciasis Molecular Laboratory was established in 2015 through a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and the Carter Center Ethiopia. It operates with technical reference support from the University of South Florida, USA. Since its establishment, the laboratory has processed a substantial volume of specimens, including; 434,542 dried blood spot (DBS) samples, 423,920 black flies and Over 500 skin-snip samples.
These analyses constitute a critical component of Ethiopia’s transmission assessment and surveillance framework for onchocerciasis elimination.
The Carter Center delegation commended EPHI for its continued leadership in coordinating national laboratory-based surveillance and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining collaborative efforts aimed at improving public health outcomes in Ethiopia.