International Neuroinfectious Disease Conference-Summary
The International Neuroinfectious Disease conference was conducted successfully from 27-28 February 2010 at the United Nations Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference was organized and sponsored by People to People,Inc(P2P), Ethiopian Medical Association(EMA), Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health(FMOH), International Society for NeuroVirology(ISNV) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders(NINDS/NIH).
It was attended by more than 250 national and International participants who came for this high class professional conference. The conference proved itself to have contributed invaluable professional and scientific insight to the participants in the areas related to the topic of the conference.
The official opening of the conference was done by His Excellency Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,Honorable Minister of Health and the introductory remarks were delivered by Drs.Enawgaw Mehari(Founder and President of P2P),Fuad Temam(President of EMA),Eugene Major((NINDS/NIH),Lynn Pulliam(President of ISNV) and Mehila Zebenigus(Neurology Department,Faculty of Medicine,AAU). The conference introduction and opening was gestured with its colorful and attractive commencement. The impressive attendance started continued similarly across the completion of the conference. The various presentations by national and International distinguished scientists and practicing clinicians were so attractive, enlightening and inspiring from knowledge and skill transfer point of view. The interactive discussions after various presentations (questions, answers and comments) were so glamorous.
The International Neuroinfectious Disease Conference covered topics relevant to neuroinfectious diseases and conditions prevalent in Africa including HIV/AIDS,neuro/AIDS, Tuberculosis,Cerebral, Leprosy, Malaria Bacterial Meningitis and Viral Encephalitis.
During the panel discussion conducted at the end of the conference various suggestions and recommendations were forwarded by the audience as well as by the panelists. It was specifically raised by the audience as to how to maximize the interaction between the international and national participants in enhancing collaboration in clinical practice, research and education. The key roles that can be played by different parties like P2P, EMA, FMOH and International Organizations/Individuals that have participated in this conference in coordinating these collaborations have been mentioned.
The encouraging response and willingness was expressed by the worldly renowned medical/clinical practioners and scientists (from the United States, Canada and the UK who participated in this conference in giving distinguished lectures and presentations) to take part in these collaboration. They have promised to do their level best to foster this collaboration and contribute towards achieving this target.
The impressive and immense efforts made by these distinguished professionals and scientists to share their knowledge and skill were greatly appreciated by the audience. The audience also asked them to continue the already started collaboration giving more emphasis with out disruption.
The conference was concluded with great fruition and success.
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PEOPLE TO PEOPLE. INC Organized International conference
People to People Inc. held a day-long international conference on women and panel discussions at the Intercontinental Hotel on 24 February 2010. The International Conference on women was organized under the theme “Empowering Women is Empowering a Nation" with a special focus on “Women’s Health”. The conference aiming at encouraging and motivating the significant involvement of women in sustainable development, attracted the Ethiopian Diaspora renowned international and national personalities from different sectors including educators, health professionals, managers and policy makers from Ethiopia as well as from various other countries. In connection with this there were a total of 200 participants which included international, local and expatriates based in Ethiopia. As highlighted above the conference was attended by Ethiopian Dignitaries: Ministers, Ambassadors, Directors and Deputy Directors; Representatives and Professionals from international and local organizations, universities, and non governmental organizations. The major topics of the conference were on maternal mortality, women and HIV/AIDS, women and mental health, women and education, women and poverty family panning and reproductive health and role of the Ethiopian Diaspora to empower women.
The conference was opened on 24 February 2010, by His Excellency, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, the Minster of Health, which was preceded by the welcoming speech made by Dr. Enawgaw Mehari, Founder and President-People to People, Inc.
Opening the day-long conference held at the Intercontinental Hotel Conference Center, Dr. Enawgaw Mehari said that women play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts in Ethiopia. However, he said limited access, inequitable distribution and inefficiency are principal manifestation of the education system of Ethiopia. He added there are major challenges for Ethiopian women to meet the targets of education for all, and attain good health practices. Hence, the Ethiopian government, international and local organizations and the Ethiopian Diaspora should exert efforts to accelerate the progress in empowering women, Dr. Enawgaw emphasized.
Finally, Dr. Enawgaw stressed why the conference was envisioned and planned with the theme” Empowering women is empowering a nation". It is believed that it would be decisive and vital in this line for experience sharing and would also help participants to understand the various problems related to women's issues as well as to build some consensus around the commitment made to share ideas across the partners and the nation at large.
There was also a call by Dr. Enawgaw Mehari for the international and local community, the Ethiopian Diaspora and all partners to work in partnership with women to enable them build their country.
Her Excellency, W/ro Muferitat Kamil, the Minister of Women's Affairs, had also passed a message to be delivered on her behalf. It was said that, there are encouraging efforts and results secured by Ethiopian women in various sectors; but a lot has to be done to perfectly address critical issues affecting women. She also said, the Ministry of Women's Affairs is working with governmental and non-governmental organizations to deal with women's issues in the country.
His Excellency Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Health, commended People to People, Inc. for organizing this timely Conference under the banner "Empowering Women is "Empowering a Nation". The Minster expressed that the conference was particularly timely because, it coincided with the renewed commitment of Ethiopian Government to the empowerment of women-recognizing that their health, well-being and advancement in every sphere is absolutely central to the development of the nation.
The Minister also said that the Ethiopian Government has responded decisively by developing and implementing national policies focused on the empowerment of women, ratifying the convention on women's rights, establishing a Ministry of Women's Affairs, increasing opportunities for women to assume leadership roles in Government, and revising regulations and laws that protect women. Besides, the Minister emphasized that there is much more to be done- the improvement of material health. This remains among our biggest challenges in Ethiopia as in many countries across our region, he stressed.
Dr. Tedros also thanked People to People, Inc.(P2P) for choosing women's issues as the focus of the conference. He said, it was a good occasion and expressed his appreciation to People to People's dedicated efforts in so many other spheres, including in support of the government's efforts to enhance the quality of higher education programs, its contributions to health care delivery and HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. The Minister finally said "We greatly value your partnership and commitment. I would like to assure you once again that on our part, we remain committed to providing you with every support possible to facilitate your efforts in serving our people." In his final remark, the Minister, Pledged People to People's support in women's issues in Ethiopia.
At the end of the opening speech by the Honorable Minister of Health, “Lifetime service award” was given by P2P to Dr. Hamline, the Founder and Medical Director of Fistula Hospital, in Addis Ababa. Dr. Hamline has been selected for this award for her immense dedication and remarkable contributions for long duration of time in advancing/serving the Ethiopian women throughout country. The award was delivered by his excellency, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
It was emphasized in the presentations that more than a thousand women die each year in pregnancy or childbirth. While there is more to women's health than pregnancy and problems related to childhood, maternal mortality due to childbirth is the greatest health risk that many women in Ethiopia face in their reproductive years.
Besides, it was stated that women for the most part remain uneducated or poorly educated. Literacy level is dismally low among the female population who live in the rural areas.
It was found that the low level of education together with the fact that over 75% of Ethiopian population is rural based. This implies that cultural norms and practices still exert a strong influence on reproductive health care especially in relation to pregnancy; delivery and child rearing.
Paper presenters emphasized that exclusion from educational opportunities has also contributed to a vicious circle of low self-esteem and low social status. This situation is partly responsible for the penetration of some negative cultural practices among women and by women. Some of these harmful traditional practices include female circumcision which enhances the formation of scars and may cause fistulae and obstruction in later years during childbirth.
Also the many papers presented stressed that the health of citizens is one of the key prerequisites for the development of a nation. Where there is poverty, lack of education, low status of women and the lack of health care, sustainable development is impossible to achieve.
In the panel discussions it was also agreed that women's health is one of the key determinants of health of the present and future generations. A healthy mother gives healthy children, a healthy family, a healthy community and a healthy nation at large.
Considering the facts, it was wholeheartedly agreed that education of women would go along way to enlighten them about the availability and need for the timely use on maternal services. It can make childbearing safer and improve the health of the entire family and the nation.
In his closing, remark, Dr. Enawgaw Mehari, said that 'People to People' would play a pivotal role in improving the living conditions of women in Ethiopia; and intensive efforts are underway to help women in various ways. He added, many thousands of women are in a bad condition of living. And he called upon the Ethiopian government, international and local organizations, the Ethiopian Diaspora and all concerned bodies to exert maximum efforts to reduce the problems related to women's issues.
The day-long conference was remarkebly successful and fruitful colored with various presentations, panel discussions and a drama. The drama was about the negative impacts HIV/AIDS in destroying the relationships and ties of family-life. The arguments of the characters added a touch and heightened the drama further.
Finally, Dr. Enawgaw's meritorious and prestigious professional achievement in winning the " American Academy of Neurology 2010 award" was appreciated and congratulated by the audience of the conference.
The National Management Team and Local Staff of People to People also expressed their appreciation and encouragement by awarding a prize to Dr. Enawgaw.
The Prize was delivered by Her Excellency, W/o Tadelech Hailemichael, the Ethiopian Ambassador in France, who also made the official closing remark of the conference.
The Ambassador appreciated the active engagement of the conference participants as well as the organizers of the conference.
GLOBAL ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE ON HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION
People to People Inc. is pleased to announce that it is organizing the 1st GLOBAL ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE ON HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION to be held on September 26, 2009 at the College of Medicine, Howard University, Main Medical Auditorium, Washington DC
The specific objectives of the conference are to facilitate the exchange of valuable information on the strategic areas of intervention and best practices in medical education and health care delivery in Ethiopia; to invigorate the role of the diaspora by creating consensus on issues of mutual interest and to bring together Ethiopian health care policy makers and Diaspora professionals there by laying down the foundation for a lasting relationship between the Diaspora and health care institutions in Ethiopia with a view to facilitate the transfer of knowledge.
It is expected that a large number of invited participants will attend the conference. Conference participants are drawn from a wide range of sectors and expertise and include diaspora health professionals in the U.S. who have already been involved in the process of health care development in Ethiopia; professionals who have the desire to give back to their country of origin; the Minister of Health of Ethiopia; the Dean of the Medical Faculty of Addis Ababa University;Presiden t of the Ethiopian Medical association, Civic society representatives; representatives of international organizations and invited scholars and scientists from the United States.
Topics to be discussed include: The state of health care delivery, Challenges of medical education, Existing partnership programs of the diaspora and the international community, Effective diaspora initiatives and mechanisms, Medical regulatory standards and emergency medicine initiatives in Ethiopia.
Together we can find solutions for our challenges!
