EPHI Enhances Collaborative Partnership with the UKHSA
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) has been collaborating with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to support the public health system and implementation of the International Health Regulation (IHR) in Ethiopia.
Dr. Mesay Hailu, the Director General of EPHI, recently met with a delegation from the UKHSA, led by Mr. Richard Gleave, the former Deputy Chief Executive of Public Health England and currently the Director of Science Strategy at the UK Health Security Agency, along with Dr. Anne Wilson, the former Asia Portfolio Lead for the IHR-SP and the current Head of IHR-SP at the UKHSA, for a productive bilateral discussion. The meeting highlighted the robust partnership between the two organizations, particularly since the launch of the IHR Strengthening Project. It was noted that EPHI and UKHSA share similar journeys and priorities, offering a valuable opportunity for mutual learning. Both organizations reiterated their commitment to collaborating on initiatives that bolster public health leadership and advance their shared goals, all in line with the strategic objectives of the Institute. As part of this collaboration with EPHI, senior leaders from UKHSA and the IHR-SP arrived in Addis Ababa on October 1st to plan and conduct a leadership training workshop in Ethiopia. The Training Workshop took place in Hawassa from October 2 to 5, 2024.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mesay Hailu, the Director General of EPHI, outlined the main objectives of the workshop, which focus on enhancing the practical leadership skills of members of EPHI’s Management Council. He highlighted the necessity of equipping public health leaders with the essential leadership capabilities and qualities needed to effectively address and resolve complex public health issues. He also noted that the enhancement of public health leadership and governance is a key strategic goal included in EPHI’s strategic plan.
The training was conducted by senior leaders from UKHSA and the IHR-SP, including Mr. Richard Gleave and Dr. Anne Wilson. The Director General, along with his deputies Dr. Getachew Tollera, Dr. Saro Abdella, and Dr. Melkamu Abte, participated as panelists in a discussion titled “Leading EPHI as a National Public Health Institute.”
Mr. Muhammed Ahmed, Director of the Training Center at EPHI, remarked that the workshop aims to enhance the leadership knowledge, skills, and attitudes of senior management members by encouraging critical thinking about their roles and responsibilities as directors in their respective directorates within the institute.
In their keynote addresses, Dr. Anne Wilson and Mr. Sajil Liaqat, the UKHSA Country Lead for Ethiopia, emphasized the significance of building leadership capacity as a crucial foundation for the implementation of the IHR.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were presented with certificates of participation.