Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Delegates led by Her Excellency Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, HHS visited Armauer Hansen Research institute (AHRI) on 22nd March 2024. The delegates consisted of Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, HHS, Angela Botticella, Chief of Staff, IOS, Loyce Pace, Assistant secretary for the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), Caya Lewis, Chief Advisor for Policy and Strategy, OGA, Elana Clarke, Acting Director, Africa/Middle East, OGA, Mandy Cohen, Director, CDC/Administrator, ATSDR, Andi Lipstein Fristedt, Deputy Director for Policy, CDC, Kayla Laserson, Director, Global Health Center, CDC, Pamela Dougherty, GHC Chief of Staff/Senior Advisor, CDC.
Prof. Afework Kassu, Director General and Dr. Alemseged Abdissa, Deputy Director General of AHRI, welcomed the guests. Dr. Alemseged briefed AHRI’s historical developments, roles and responsibilities and its research focus areas.
The visit was aimed at observing the outcomes and impacts brought by the U.S. Agencies funded research projects run by AHRI for the past couples of years in the areas of Malaria, TB, Vaccine, Clinical Trial and capacity building activities. It also aimed at exploring future areas of research and capacity building collaborations to tackle the health and health related problems in Ethiopia.
AHRI researchers presented the outcomes of different research projects conducted by the funds received from CDC, NIH, PMI and the USAID. There was also a practical demonstration of the mosquitoes rearing at the laboratory, mosquitoes identification by microscopy and Larval Source Management in collaboration with the EVOLVE partners.
Moreover, the delegates visited AHRI’s research facilities. Prof. Afework Kassu, Director General of AHRI, delivered closing remarks by stressing the importance of strengthening future collaborations with U.S. Agencies in research and research capacity building.
