The following is an update from the CHAMPS Ethiopia newsletter. Read more to learn about their recent progress and future programmatic steps.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.
 

The New Year (for both the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars!) has brought more activity at our CHAMPS site in Harar. Social science and community engagement continues, whilst laboratory development is completed and preparations are made for clinical work, with two of our team training in Mahica, Mozambique to see and learn how to do Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS).
We have also recently welcomed members of the IT team from KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) to help us assess our IT needs and plan how to develop these. In addition, members of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) came to visit the site, joined by members of our partner institute, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), working on developing “data to action”.  Last but not least, we congratulate our hard working project coordinator Mahlet, and her husband Melkamu, on the arrival of their baby boy.

Thanks to the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme IT team, pictured here in our new meeting room, with the Harar IT team, from front left Anthony Karani (KWTRP), then Fitsum Yeneneh, Feyisa Abebe  and Robe Hawas, with Norbert Kihuha (KWTRP) and Boniface Jibendi (KWTRP). Emmanuel Azore shows the IT team around the new microbiology laboratory.

Social science continues as the community engagement plan is implemented and we increase awareness in the community around Kersa, Weter and Harar of CHAMPS activities.

We were visited by Katy Seib and Sue Binder from the International Association of National Public Health Institutes, who came together with Dr Asnake Worku and Dr. Awoke Misganaw from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The site visit was part of a longer visit between IANPHI and EPHI to progress plans for turning our data into action. During the visit the team visited Harar and Kersa, saw the site and met with local government and public health officials, including the zonal health authorities. They also met our new community advisory board members, set up by our social and bevioural science team.

Dr Stefanie Wittmann and Dr Natnael travelled to Mahica, Mozambique to the Manhiça Health Research Centre (Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, CISM) to see and learn how minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) was performed. Many thanks to all involved there and at IS Global for a very useful week.

What is coming up?

• Our IT team in Harar will visit KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in early March, learning from their experience and working alongside them to develop their skills.
• Our next national scientific advisory committee is planned for April 2018.