He said during the course of the six-month training, the trainees attended various courses that focus, among other topics, on leadership; gathering, consolidating and analyzing scientific information as well as on planning and monitoring of research programs.
Ato Semegnew Mengestu, Deputy Executive Director of EPHA recalled on the occasion that some 265 health professionals drawn from various regions and health sector organizations have been trained and graduated in LSI program since the program was launched in 2006.
Ato Semegnew addressing the trainees
Ato Semegnew called on the trainees to play a catalyst role in practicing and promoting evidence-based decision and leadership in their respective work places.
Addressing the event, Ato Ali Gebeyehu, Deputy Head of the Amhara Regional State Health Bureau also urged the graduates to translate the skills and knowledge they have gained from the course into their practical duties and bring about a meaningful change in the health sector.
He also expressed the commitment and readiness of the Amhara Regional Health Bureau to continue supporting the implementation of the LSI Program and work together with concerned bodies to reduce the number of dropouts from the training.
Ato Ali expressing region’s commitment to support LSI
Also on the occasion, Ato Bekele Belayihun, LSI Program Coordinator at EPHA, gave detailed background information on the inception, goal and specific objectives of the Program. He said EPHA has been providing leadership in strategic information training since November 2006 with the aim of developing the capacities of the public health sector in using strategic information to improve skills in need assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluations of the full range of public health interventions at the sub-national levels.
Ato Bekele further noted that of the 24 health professionals recruited and enrolled into the 13th LSI cohort of trainees, 20 have successfully completed the course studying the full package of the training; including the three succeeding modules along with undertaking specific research projects with the use of secondary data on different health related topics.
Ato Bekele explaining about LSI program
He said the training has been provided by the Ethiopian Public Health Association in collaboration with the Gondar University and with financial support secured from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
W/ro Emebet Mekonne, Health Research and Technology Transfer Process Owner at the SNNPRS Health Bureau, congratulated the trainees and urged them to be on the forefront in bridging gaps in the health sector through exercising evidence-based decisions.
W/ro. Emebet speaking on the occasion
The graduates, through their representative, stated that the training has been helpful in enhancing their knowledge and skills on leadership, research methodologies and application of various computer programs and software. They thanked EPHA and the University of Gondar for organizing such useful training and their mentors for their valuable support.
At the conclusion of the graduation ceremony, the graduates received certificates from the hands of Dr. Sisay Yifru, Dean of Medicine and Health Science at the University of Gondar, Ato Ali Gebeyehu, Deputy Head of the Amhara Regional State Health Bureau and Ato Semegnew Mengestu, Deputy Executive Director of EPHA.
Handing over of certificates to the trainees