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Basic Facts

The Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) is a volunteer, national public health association that benefits both the members of the association and the public health professionals at large in the exchange of scientific information, and ideas among health professionals. It is one of the foremost and prominent health professional associations in Ethiopia. As a successor to the former Health Officers Professional Association, and later on the Ethiopian Health Professionals Union, the Ethiopian Public Health Association was established in 1989 as a multi-disciplinary Association.

Professional Environment

EPHA is an active and prominent health professional association in Ethiopia with increasing membership and developing leadership. However, the environment in which it is operating is dynamic so that it has to strive to adjust to this change. Its members are placed in health facilities all over the country and also many of them posted in key leadership positions in governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

An analysis of this environmental change involves consideration of its internal and external environments. In this regard EPHA is directed by a five-year strategic plan.

Governance and Staffing

The organizational structure and staffing pattern of EPHA has been gradually changing over the years to adjust to circumstances that are created as a result of its internal and external dynamic environment.

The General Assembly of EPHA is the supreme body of the Association. It meets at least once in a year and delegates its authority to an elected Board. The Executive Board of EPHA ensures the fulfillment of the mission and objectives of the Association. The Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director and carries out the day-to-day activities of the Association. Currently, the Secretariat is staffed by an Administrative Assistant, Officers and Coordinators, Accountant, Cashier, Secretaries and other support staff. According to prevailing circumstances the Secretariat is relatively well staffed and well equipped to meet current requirement. It has Financial and Accounting Manual, and Personnel Management Manual.

The Ethiopian Public Health Association has established about 12 branch offices, or Chapters outside the capital city, Addis Ababa in the various regions, and will continue to do so as the need arises. Both the head office and the Chapters present their activity reports at the Annual Conference every year. 

Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA)

 
The Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) is a health professionals association established in 1989 G.C. that envisions the attainment of an optimal standard of health for the people of Ethiopia. It promotes better health services to the public and high professional standards through advocacy, professional competence, relevant policies, and effective networking. EPHA is committed to improve the health and living status of the people of Ethiopia through the dedicated and active involvement of the organization and its members and through collaboration with stakeholders.
 
EPHA is an association of public health professionals of varying categories and levels of training. EPHA members are distributed all over the country occupying positions at different levels of health care and management from woreda (district) health office and health facilities to the level of a minister. EPHA members are also in private, government and non-government organizations as are its Executive Board members EPHA is among the strongest professional associations in Ethiopia with a current membership of more than 3000. EPHA has its head quarter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and chapters in different regions of the country. The Association is working closely with its partners and collaborators to facilitate and accelerate activities on the country’s priority public health issues and has years of experience and success in implementing national as well as continental projects.. EPHA has good working relationship with governmental and non-governmental organizations, and universities within the country and abroad.
 
The Association has proven track records in strengthening professional’s skills and capacity of its members through annual conferences, continuing education, and sponsorship of members to participate in international conferences, development of curricula, guidelines and research undertaking. The association has engaged itself in the following activities to achieve its objectives:
 
  • Generating evidence based information through conducting and supporting research studies, program evaluations and surveillance activities
  • Disseminating evidence based information through its established outlets throughout the country; such as Ethiopian Journal of Health Development (EJHD, Public Health Digest, Felege Tena newsletter, Health Extension Workers newsletter, EPHA funded MPH theses extracts, EPHA website (http://www.etpha.org/) EPHA-Public Health Library and E-learning Centre and other forums
  • Fund public health masters’ theses;
  • Organize professional training programs and workshops;
  • Organize annual EPHA conference to disseminate research findings;
  • Policy advocacy involving in many MOH forums;
  • Takes leadership on professional accreditation and professional guideline development;
  • Support Public Health and Laboratory Professional Associations;
  • Enhance professional safety in the working environment through infection prevention advocacy; etc…
 
EPHA has an Executive Director, Executive Board headed by its President, Advisory Council and a General Assemblly. It has transparent financial and accountability facilitated by internal and external auditors. EPHA is a member of World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). In 2008 EPHA has been selected by the General Assembly of the WFPHA to host the 13th World Congress on Public Health.

MISSION

To promote better health services for the public and to maintain professional standards through advocacy, active involvement, and networking.
 

VALUES

EPHA is committed to improve the health and living status of the people of Ethiopia through the dedicated and active involvement of its members and in collaboration with stakeholders. EPHA stands for professional development of its members without prejudice as regards gender, religious, or ethnic affiliation.
 

GOAL

The goal of the Association is the attainment of optimum health to the people of Ethiopia through the advancement of public health measures for the promotion of health, prevention of diseases, timely treatment of the sick, and rehabilitation of the disabled.
 

VISION

EPHA envisions the attainment of the highest possible standard of health for all Ethiopians.
The objective of the Association is the advancement of public health measures for the promotion of health, prevention of diseases, timely treatment of the sick, and rehabilitation of the disabled by:
  • Bringing together persons who are trained in, working in, or interested in, public health or public health-related disciplines;
  • Actively participating in, and influencing, health policy, planning, training, management, and practice of public health;
  • Promoting the rights and interests of members;
  • Establishing forums for promoting communication among members and the public on health and health-related matters;
  • Advancing research in public health and publishing scientific journals, newsletters and bulletins for disseminating the results for the advancement of knowledge and excellence in public health practice;  
  • Playing active advocacy roles on important health issues, such as prevention and control of epidemics and disaster situations