The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) and the Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS) through a Memorandum of Understanding formalize an agreement to develop collaborative activities in the area of migration health research and development, technology transfer, and training to improve the health and well being of refugees and returnees in Ethiopia; on October 5, 2022.
From this collaborative partnership AHRI will mainly be responsible for:
- Coordinating overall research activities and providing supplies necessary to efficiently run the project.
- Conducting biomedical, clinical and biotechnology research activities among refugees and returnees (e.g. surveys, sample collection) and implement scientific technologies to improve medical care, health and well-being of the refugee community.
- Share regular progress reports with the RRS at all relevant levels of structure and promote training and technical support.
Likewise the RRS will majorly be responsible for;
- Authorizing AHRI to operate in respective refugee camps to implement agreed projects in addition to facilitating access to the refugee camps/ study areas
- Coordinating and collaborating with the RRS health staff to undertake the study and in establishing and maintaining coordinated responses as contained in the respective projects.
- Monitoring and evaluating the project implementation of AHRI as well as giving necessary guidance that improves the delivery of the program.
The prioritized research project areas will provide vital information and knowledge on Communicable and Non- Communicable disease transmission and will provide recommendations that will serve as an input to the national health sector policies and strategies, in addition to alleviating the burden that stem from these diseases.
For the results dissemination phase, a platform will be organized by both parties to engage the stakeholders and the general public, and we thereby call upon all media outlets to be part of this initiative in order to disseminate the information to a wider audience.
The agreement was signed by AHRI’s Director General, Prof. Afework Kassu and RRS’s Director General Mr. Tesfahun Gobezay at the RRS Head Office.