Ethiopia Global Infectious Disease (GID) Training Grant

Program Overview

Supported by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Ethiopia Global Infectious Disease (GID) training grant is a 5-year project that aims to strengthen research capacity in Ethiopia in the area of childhood infectious diseases and nutrition. This grant is jointly led by Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (ACIPH) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the United States. The program provides research training to junior- and mid-level researchers and health college faculty in substantive areas of pediatric infectious diseases, epidemiological methods, implementation science, and in career advancement areas.

The specific aims of the proposed training program are to:

  1. Develop a critical mass of mid-level public health researchers who can address priority childhood infectious disease, nutrition, and implementation science issues in the Ethiopian context by leading research programs and building additional capacity.
  2. Build a critical mass of junior public health researchers who can design and successfully carry out rigorous research projects in pediatric infectious diseases and nutrition using training and mentoring approaches designed to advance research with potential for significant impact on the nutritional status and health of the Ethiopian population.

Training methods include:

  • Long-term postdoctoral fellowships
  • Short-term doctoral fellowships
  • Short courses
  • Monthly seminar series
  • Annual symposia

Program Team

Principal Investigators:

  • Yemane Berhane, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health and Director, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health
  • Wafaie Fawzi, Richard Saltonstall Professor of Population Sciences, and Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Global Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Program Director:

-Alemayehu Worku, Professor of Biostatistics, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Program Administrators:

  • Hanna Gulema, Program Coordinator, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health
  • Patricie Niyitegeka, Program Director, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Tara Young, Program Coordinator, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Training Activities

Current Trainees

Postdoctoral trainees

  • Walelegn Yallew, Associate Professor, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health
  • Hanna Berhane, Assistant Professor, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Short Courses

The Ethiopia GID Training Program hosts two intensive short courses each year designed to build capacity in pediatric infectious disease and nutrition research skills and general professional skills. These courses will be open to masters and doctoral level students, as well as postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty from ACIPH, Haramaya University, and Addis Ababa University. The short courses will be a four-week commitment, including: one week of pre-course preparation, one-week of in-class instruction with faculty, and two weeks of post-course wrap-up and evaluation.

Previous and upcoming short courses include:

  • April 2021: Implementation Science Research of Interventions for Nutrition and Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • December 2020: Manuscript Writing

Annual Symposia

Each year, the Ethiopia GID Training Program will host a symposium focused on pediatric infectious diseases and nutrition. The annual symposium will be open to the broader scientific and public health communities in the country and will provide a forum to share collective experiences and lessons learned, and to build a cross-discipline network of researchers, academicians, policymakers and beyond.

Listserv

To subscribe to the GID Ethiopia listserv, please enter your email address here. We will send email communications about the monthly seminars, short courses, annual symposia and more. You may unsubscribe from the listserv at any time.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding the Ethiopia GID Training Program, please contact:

NEWS
Grant Management trainingShort training on grant management was organized by GID-Ethiopia ACIPH and Harvard University from October 2 to 27, 2023. The grant management course is designed to introduce participants to the practical issues of managing a grant and help them confidently manage grants.The course covers topics such as understanding the funder’s expectations from grant recipients and using templates/forms to enhance grant management practices. The course is structured into four phases.

-Phase I: Independent reading and preparation;
-Phase II: In person lectures/discussions on Grant management topics;
-Phase III: Independent work on a group work assignment and virtual presentation; and
-Phase IV: revising the presentation and submission of assignment report with coaching session and reviewing participant’s group work.
The in-person lecture was held from October 09 to 13,2023 at ACIPH Hall in Addis Ababa. The participants came from different universities, Hospitals, and NGO.

GID-Ethiopia at Addis Continental Institute of Public Health and Harvard University organized a face-to-face training session on vaccine strategies for pediatric infections from April 11 to April 15, 2022. This vaccine strategies for pediatric infections course aims at training health care providers, researchers and academicians by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the vaccinology principles, mechanisms of action, from immunology to vaccine development and clinical trials, and the social, economic, political and ethical issues of vaccination. The training was conducted at ACIPH Hall in Addis Ababa. The participants were from different universities, institutions, Hospitals, FMOH and NGO.”
GID Grant Management Course: Audits and Monitoring
Recording 


Professor Wakgari Deressa
Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health at Addis Ababa University

Compliance with smoke-free laws in Hospitality venues in Ethiopia: an observational study in 10 cities

Zoom Link

Dr. Mesfin Mamo Utaile

Assistant Professor of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University

Epidemiology of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its outcomes in Gammo Goffa Zone, South Ethiopia: a community-based study.The presentation will focus on the prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy, and its effects on maternal morbidity during delivery and postpartum, skilled care use during delivery,and essential newborn care practices in Gammo Goffa Zone, South Ethiopia.

Zoom Link


Dr. Biftu Geda
Dean of Madda Walabu University, Shashamene Campus
Associate Professor of Nursing and Public Health
Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media among Children with Hearing Loss: A Community-Based Survey
The presentation focuses on determining the magnitude of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media and factors associated with hearing loss and its characteristics among children aged 0-14 in Eastern Ethiopia.
Recording


Dr. Tesfaye Assebe
Associate Professor of Public Health and Maternal and Child Health; Educational Development Center Coordinator and CPD Director at Haramaya University
Preventable Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections: impact on the lives of both infants and mothers

The presentation will focus on the magnitude of GBS recto-vaginal colonization, vertical transmission of GBS, the association between Maternal GBS recto-vaginal colonization and stillbirth, and Erythromycin and Clindamycin resistance to GBS.
Zoom Link

Dr Gizachew Tadele
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Research at JSI Research & Training Institute
Improving access to and delivery of community-based management of possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) for sick young infants during COVID-19 pandemic:
Lessons from an embedded implementation research in Ethiopia.

The presentation highlights key lessons from an embedded implementation research project conducted between April 2021 and June 2022 aimed at mitigating COVID-19 impact on neonatal mortality through strengthening community-based treatment of PSBI.
Recording


Dr.Firehiwot Workneh
Assistant Professor of Public Health/M&E and Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

RiskPerceptionTowardsCOVID-19andthe Effect of the Pandemic on the mental health of the general population and healthcare providers
ThestudyaimedtoassesstheriskperceptiontowardsCOVID-19andthementalhealthsymptom complex among the general population and to evaluate the mental health effects of the pandemic on healthcare providers in Addis Ababa.
Recording

Dr. Nebiyou Fasil
Assistant Professor of Global Helath, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Estimating the effect of Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health and Nutrition through structural Level Interventions
(Abdiboru) on adolescent girls’ agency and norms in West Hararghe, rural Eastern Ethiopia
Recording

 

Dr Mekonnen Assefa Assistant Professor of Public Health,
Debre Tabor University

Diagnostic Performance of BMI, Waist Circumference, and Waist-HIP Ratio in identifying
Obesity Based on Body Adiposity in Adults:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Recording

Dr Abera Kenay
Associate Professor of Maternal and Child Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences,Haramaya University
Establishing Obstetric Surveillance Systems in low resource settings:the Case Ethiopian Obstetrics Surveillance System (EthOSS)
Recording

 

Dr Saro Abdella
Deputy Director General,
Ethiopian Public Health Institute

HIV among female sex workers in Ethiopia:
The Burden, Access to Interventions and Effect of Drop-in Centers
Recording


Dr. Muluwas Amentie
Assistant Professor of Reproductive Health and Public Health,  College of Health Science, Assosa University
The effects of completion of continuum of care in maternal health services on adverse birth outcomes in Northwestern Ethiopia: A prospective follow up study.

Recording


Nina Rehn-Mendoza
Analyst, Public Health Reporting and Evaluation Unit, PHAS
Rosita Wigand
Analyst, Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, PHAS

Zoom Link

Dr. Messeret Shibeshi
Medical Epidemiologist, World HealthOrganization Zimbabwe
Dr. Shibeshi is the immunization system focal person for the WHO inter-country support team in East
and Southern Africa
Recording

Dr. Mulugeta Nega

Senior Research Scientist,Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT) of the University of Tübingen, German
Recording

Prof Abera Kumie
Professor of Environmental Health at the School of Public Health,
Addis Ababa University

The status of particulate air pollution in Addis Ababa and its possible health effect
March 2017-April 2022

Recording

Dr. Semira Abdelmenan
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Head of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department at the Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Addis Yeka Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (AYU-HDSS): findings from baseline survey
Accurate population-based information is critical for evidence based public health practice. Assessing the occurrence of health events and evaluating interventions in a population-based platform help in timely decision making in rapidly growing urban areas. Establishing a health and demographic surveillance system in Addis Ababa, a rapidly growing city, is critical to generate essential health and demographic information and to host essential research. The aim of the AYU-HDSS is to generate health and demographic information in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This seminar will present results from the AYU-HDSS baseline survey.
Zoom Link

Dr. Liya Wassie
Senior Scientist, Immunologist,
Armauer Hansen Research Institute
(AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Significance of latent TB infection (LTBI) in TB burden in Ethiopia Tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest scourge, poses a
significant public health threat globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Aerosol seems the primary route of
transmission to establish infection in humans. Latent TB infection, a silent form of the disease, is often considered as
one of the conditions contributing to the high rates of primary TB infections seen in SSA. This webinar will discuss
the impact of LTBI on the overall TB burden and what it means in terms of TB control in Ethiopia.
Recording

Prof. Nega Assefa
Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Haramaya University and site director for CHAMPS Ethiopia

Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS)
The aim of CHAMPS) is to determine the cause of child samples from still births and deaths in children aged<5
years are collected. Cause of death( CoD) is determined by an expert panel integrating clinical data, verbal autopsies,
molecular and conventional microbiology and histopathology of post-mortem tissue biopsies, molecular and conventional microbiology and histopathology
of post-mortem tissue biopsies. Causes were classified as underlying, comorbid and immediate causes.

Recording

Dr Honelgn Nahusenay
GID Ethiopia Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

The effect of infection on growth of children in Tanzania
The presentation aims to assess the effect of infections such as malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infection on
the nutritional status and growth of children. The study is an in-depth analysis of a longitudinal birth cohort from
Tanzania.

Recording

Stanley Chitekwe
Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF office in Ethiopia

Result based strategic planning: development of the Multi sector Nutrition Plan using experiences from Nepal and Ethiopia

The presentation will show the key elements of results based strategic planning such as deprivation analysis, causality analysis, theory of change development and other key steps. The speaker will use a live example of how this approach was used to develop multi sector nutrition strategic plans using experiences from Nepal and Ethiopia. They will also share challenges and lessons learnt and areas that need further research.
Recording

Dr Hanna Yemane
Associate Professor of Nutrition and Deputy director for research and community services at the Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Timeliness and completeness of routine childhood vaccinations among children residing in Bahir Dar city, Northern Ethiopia

The implementation of routine vaccinations for infants of different ages; from birth to 24 months, has contributed to the aversion of 37 million deaths and reduced the number of zero-dose children. Despite this, in the last decade, the number of unvaccinated children increasing by 3.4 million. The increase in the number of unvaccinated children is related to several factors, especially in Ethiopia which has one of the highest numbers of unvaccinated children in the world. The current study evaluates the completeness and timeliness of routine childhood vaccinations and seeks to understand if COVID-19 has affected vaccination services in a selected city in Ethiopia.

Zoom link

Dr Walelegn Worku
Associate Professor of Public Health at Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Pneumonia among under-five children in Addis Ababa

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in under-five children in low-income countries. The burden of Pneumonia in Hospital admission is not well traced systematically. Contextual data are critical to implement relevant interventions. The seminar presentation will focus on the magnitude of under-five children admitted due to pneumonia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Recording

Dr. Adane Kebede
Assistant Professor of Public Health and Health Service Management, University of Gondar

Residential Food environment, Consumption of Vitamin A-rich and Ultra-processed Foods, Association of ultra-processed Food Consumption and Overweight-obesity among preschoolers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The presentation addresses the global and national burden of urbanization on food environment and its influences on children’s diet behaviors. Moreover, the presentation discusses about the nature of problems related to malnutrition and consumption of vitamin A-rich plant-based food and ultra-processed food.
Recording

Dr. Zemichael Gizaw
Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Gondar

Enteric infections and environmental enteric dysfunction explain a high prevalence of linear growth faltering in a rural northwest Ethiopia.

The presentation aims to discuss the effects of water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH); enteric infections ((particularly diarrhea and intestinal parasites);and dysfunction(EED) on linear growth faltering among children.
Recording

Zoom link

Complicated Pneumonia in Children

Dr. Kassa Ayalew
Division Director for the Division of Clinical Copliance Evaluation in the Office of Scientific Investigation in Center for Drug Evaluation and Research ath the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Evaluation and Management of Acute Bacterial Meningitis in Children

Children with suspected bacterial meningitis require urgent evaluation and management, including propt administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Even with available optimal therapy, morbidity and mortality are to recognize the infectious etiologiew of bacterial meningitis, formulate a differential diagnosis, learn about factors related tot the outcome of meningitis and plan appropriate management.

Recording

Dr. Richard Cash
Senior Lecturer Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard Chan School of Public Health

Taking Science to the People: The development and Dissemination of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) and the impact of Diarrhea on Children Diarrhea remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. The session will explore the development and dissemination of ORT, a major intervention in reducing the health impact of diarrhea and review ways to increase use.

Zoom link 

Dr. Bikes Destaw
Associate Professor and Vice Coordinator of DabatResearch Center (DRC) HDSS site at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia

Effectiveness and Acceptability of Solar Disinfection (SODIS) for Prevention of Childhood Diarrheal Disease in Northwest Ethiopia
The main findings of a study on the effectiveness and acceptability of SODIS as a method of household water treatment for prevention of the incidence of diarrheal diseases among under-five-children in Northwest Ethiopia are presented. The study employed cross-sectional, randomized control trial and phenomenological designs.

Dr. GizachewTadele
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research at JSI Research & Training Institute Inc., The Last 10 Kilometers Project

Continuum of Maternal and Newborn Health Care (including care for neonatal infections) in Ethiopia: Its Determinants, Community’s Experience, and Perceptions

Despite the national efforts in expanding access to primary health care services and huge investments to improve utilization of maternal and newborn health care (including neonatal infections) over the last decades, women and babies are not receiving an appropriate continuum of care in Ethiopia that contributes to the unacceptably high maternal and newborn mortality. This presentation, therefore, highlights the individual-and community-level factors limiting the use of maternal and newborn health care along the pathway of the continuum of care in Ethiopia.

Dr. Ismael Ahmed
Honorary Assistant Professor at Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Effectiveness of Sameday Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in Clinical Outcomes among People Living with HIV in Ethiopia: empirical evidence

Since the launch of universal “test and treat” (UTT) approach by the World Health Organization in 2015, significantly higher proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in lowincome settings have been initiated on ART. Ethiopia adopted and implemented UTT approach since 2016. This presentation highlights the effectiveness of sameday ART initiation in clinical outcomes of PLHIV in routine clinical care settings in Ethiopia.

Dr. Ayele Zewde
Chief of Party for the USAIDfunded
SMMES 
Project at ACIPH

Malaria elimination in Ethiopia; is it a possibility or a dream?

The progressive gain in malariaprevention andcontrol since 2005 in Ethiopia encouraged the MoHof Ethiopia and its partners to aim
for malaria elimination in the country. With all the challenges faced 
since the launching of malaria elimination in March 2017, the
national malaria elimination program (NMEP) developed an 
ambitious plan of malaria elimination in Ethiopia by 2030. The aim
of this presentation is to highlight the malaria prevention, control 
and elimination gains in the country and show experience of two
countries who recently eliminated 
malaria.

Prof. Aron Troen
Director, Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Dr. Tomer Malchi
Executive Director and Co-Founder of CultivAid

Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture: Addressing Health through Agriculture

Population growth, urbanization, climate change, conflict and Covid-19 are ever more stressing the need for an agricultural transformation that empowers farmers to be resilient in face of these challenges.  The presentation will elaborate on the SeqotaDeclaration and various models of implementation in Ethiopia by CultivAidwhich are related to Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture with emphasis on value chains, technologies, economic development and an agricultural knowledge infrastructure. The talk will highlight the importance of developing a common language between agricultural and health experts in order to  address malnutrition.

Dr Tegbar Yigzaw
Chief of Party, Health Workforce Improvement Program, Jhpiego

The Global Commission for Education of Health Professionals for the 21st century called for competency-based education in order to better address complex health challenges of our time. One of the cardinal features of competency-based education is a greater emphasis on quality of student assessment. Attributes of a good assessment are validity, reliability, feasibility, educational effect, catalytic effect and acceptability. In this webinar, participants will learn about the rationale for introducing OSPHE and steps to implement OSPHE in their programs.

Dr. Solomon Memire
Director,  Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting

Priority-setting in health: a case study of the 2019 EHSP revision in Ethiopia

The seminar will discuss why priority setting in health is required and important on the path towards universal health coverage. Key criteria and process of health priority setting will be presented. The presentation also deals with the process and criteria used in 2019 Ethiopia’s Essential Health Services Package (EHSP) Revision.

Mahlet Kifle, MD, MPH
Principal Programme Officer, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Priority setting challenges during public health emergencies

The presentation focuses on the challenges drawing from the experience in responding to COVID-19 and other outbreaks on the African continent.

Dr. Teshome Gebre
Consultant , Health Science Specialist

Rethinking disease eradication: putting countries first
The presentation focuses on the factors that played major roles in hindering the attainment of eradication goals and outlines possible recommendations for the way forward.

Professor Lulu Muhe
Honorary Professor, Addis
Ababa University
WHO Consultant

Major causes of death and complications among preterm infants in selected hospitals in Ethiopia The presentation will be based on a prospective observational study in 5 tertiary hospitals in Ethiopia. The study identifies deficiencies in the existing public health measures taking place in the country. It makes recommendations to address the high neonatal mortality in the country to meet SDG3.

Recording

Professor Tsinuel Girma
Country Director
Fenot:Achieving Excellence in  Achieving Excellence in Primary Health Care Project

Nutrition-inflammation-infection complex: clinical and public health implications
Infection-and nutrition-related conditions are major contributors of the global burden of morbidity and premature death. The seminar will provide an overview of the evolution and intricate relationship of the nutrient-and pathogen-sensitive physiologic systems. It also highlights the implications of this complex interplay in both clinical and public health contexts.

Recording

Dereje Birhanu, PhD
Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Children with secure acute malnutrition (SAM) without complications & those with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) may be treated in the community setting without requiring admission to a health facility (Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition). Prevalence of relapse of SAM or MAM following recovery are high. Understanding the magnitude and factors associated with relapse in a local context is important  to design solutions and appreciate the consequences

Dr. Wondwossen Amogne
Director, Research and Technology Transfer
College of Health Sciences
Addis Ababa University

The options for Ethiopia towards a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine

Identifying COVID-19 vaccines that best suit Ethiopian setting is vital. Prioritizing whom to vaccinate in Ethiopia will help the country to prepare for the vaccine. Understanding the epidemiological significance of having a vaccine in Ethiopia is important.

Wondwossen Gebreyes, DVM, PhDHazel C. Youngberg Distinguished ProfessorExecutive Director, Global One Health Initiative

The Global One Health initiative (GOHi): Strengthening Global Capacity to address Complex Priorities

GOHiis a grass-root initiative that has brought together U.S. and developing region strategic university and research institute partners in eastern Africa, Latin America and Asia since 2009. Within a joint venture, the collaborative initiative identified key priorities based on local and regional needs. To that goal, GOHihas been working on various foodborne, waterborne and vector-borne diseases as well as associated issues such as antimicrobial resistance and cancer. GOHi’sprojects have been building capacity of research, training and outreach.  With sponsorship provided from multiple sources including the NIH Fogarty International Center, CDC Global Health Security, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other foundations, we have been strengthening integrated one health capacity in emerging infectious zoonotic diseases as well as non-communicable diseases. Our vision is building capable professionals and institutional systems for a healthy and enduring global community.

Fentabil Getnet Yimer, PhD
JigjigaUniversity

Delays in Diagnosis of Pulmonary Delays in Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Pastoralist Setting of Ethiopia: Extents, Effect on Infectiousness and Challenges

This presentation draws attention to the major findings of a mixed method study conducted in underserved pastoralist setting in Ethiopia. The study investigated the extent of delays in diagnosis of pulmonary TB, the determinants of delays, the effect of delays on infectiousness (cavitation and smear positivity), and the challenges that hinder the delivery and utilization of TB services in pastoralist communities.

WalelegnW. Yallew, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Infection prevention practices in the era of COVID-19

Infection is one of the preventable causes of death in healthcare settings. Infection can spread patient-to-patient, patient-to-staff, staff-to-patient, or among staff. The health system in low-and middle-income countries is weak to properly implement prevention, control, and surveillance of infection in health care settings. The vulnerability of the health care professionals and patients/clients visiting the health care facilities substantially increase during highly contagious epidemics such as Covid-19. This presentation highlights the challenges of implementing Infection prevention practices in health care settings and the potential impact on the health care system.

Hanna Y. Berhane, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health

Motherhood in rapidly urbanizing settings: implications on child care and nutrition

Mothers play a crucial role in the battle against malnutrition by guaranteeing children are sufficiently cared for, and nourished. However, in rapidly urbanizing settings, mothers are continually forced to adjust to the social, economic, and food environment changes compromising her ability to provide the needed care and support for her child. Thus, this study seeks to understand the lived experience and challenges of urban mothers, and how it reflects on