The Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s (EPHI) HIV and TB Research Directorate has successfully disseminated findings from four key surveys conducted during this budget year, with support from the Global Fund.
The event was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), international and local partners, and regional bureau heads.
The Director General of EPHI, H.E. Dr. Mesay Hailu, launched the workshop by welcoming participants and reaffirming EPHI’s strong commitment to bridging information gaps through high-quality data provision. Dr. Mesay emphasized the importance of utilizing these findings promptly to curb the HIV epidemic among key populations. He urged regional heads and national program leaders to integrate this evidence into their strategic actions effectively.
Mr. Fikadu Yadeta, the HIV Prevention and Control Lead Executive Officer, expressed profound gratitude to EPHI for its meticulous work. He highlighted the pressing need for data on key populations, noting that the evidence provided by the research is crucial for the program’s success. “The recommendations from these findings will be used in shaping our implementation strategies,” said Mr. Fikadu.
H.E. State Minister Dr. Dereje Duguma commended EPHI for its outstanding achievements and reiterated the importance of these findings for the national HIV program. He called on all stakeholders to support the vision of reaching the 2030 goals and officially opened the meeting. “The data presented today is crucial for our mission to end the HIV epidemic. I urge everyone to utilize these data to drive our efforts forward,” stated Dr. Dereje.
The key findings of the surveys showed a critical understanding of various HIV-affected populations. The Integrated Bio-behavioral Survey among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) indicated high HIV prevalence and significant barriers to health services due to stigma, legal challenges, and a lack of targeted interventions. The survey recommended expanding harm reduction programs like needle exchange and addiction treatment services. The survey among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) showed that they are at heightened risk of HIV infection due to socio-economic vulnerabilities, limited access to education, and gender-based violence, suggesting comprehensive prevention programs focusing on education, economic empowerment, and protective measures against violence. The National Formative Assessment on why men lag in HIV service utilization identified societal expectations, fear of stigma, and a lack of male-friendly health services as key barriers, emphasizing the need for targeted outreach and the creation of male-friendly services to improve HIV testing and treatment uptake among men. Lastly, the study on mortality among people living with HIV in care and treatment highlighted late diagnosis, inadequate access to antiretroviral therapy, and insufficient follow-up care as contributing factors to AIDS-related mortality. Recommendations focused on improving early diagnosis, ensuring comprehensive care, and addressing socio-economic determinants of health to enhance outcomes for people living with HIV.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Getachew Tollera, Deputy Director General of EPHI, extended his heartfelt thanks to the HIV/TB Research Directorate and the dedicated research team. He praised their tireless efforts in conducting the four simultaneous surveys within a short timeframe. Dr. Getachew also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of various governmental and non-governmental organizations that provided technical and financial support. “This dissemination marks a crucial step in our battle against HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, as addressing identified gaps and implementing recommended interventions will significantly progress toward controlling and eventually eliminating these diseases,” remarked Dr. Getachew as he officially closed the workshop.
