WB and ECSA-HC Delegates Visited EPHI
Delegates from the World Bank (WB) and East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) visited the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) on November 20, 2024. The purpose of the visit was to share experience on the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) testing services currently being provided in Ethiopia.Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of EPHI, along with the Director of Laboratory Capacity Building Directorate and laboratory technical experts of EPHI welcomed the delegates.
The Director General outlined the roles of EPHI in strengthening the national health security through several key initiatives like spearheading and coordinating public health emergency management efforts, ensuring that response strategies are both comprehensive and effective; conducting essential health researches and synthesizing scientific evidence to inform public health policies, strategies, intervention programs and practices; building sustainable and resilient laboratory systems for the provision of high-quality laboratory services, and advancing digital health data science and analytics towards improving the country’s health information systems to effectively support public health decision-making in real time.
A senior laboratory expert of the Institute delivered a presentation on Ethiopia’s laboratory system, focusing on its organizational structure, successes, challenges, future perspectives and opportunities. The presentation has also touched upon the country’s Strategic Plan for the advancement of the National Health Laboratory System and services. Furthermore, the presentation has provided progress updates on overall lab activities including Ethiopia’s strategy and implementation mechanisms for the provision of quality human papilloma virus (HPV) diagnostic services. Finally, the delegates visited the EPHI’s` molecular laboratory where referral HPV testing service is also provided.