|
|
|
Health Research Department
Background
Ethiopia is one of the developing countries where disease prevalence
is high and living standards of the population are very low. Health
Services in Ethiopia have long history and traditional medicine has
been flourishing since medieval times. Similarly, western medicine had
its beginnings between early 15th & late 16th centuries.
The development of health in a country needs to be supported by the
development of Health Science & Technology, because Health Science
& Technology enables people apply solutions that are already available
& generate new knowledge for tackling emerging health problems.
Health Science & Technology encompasses the scientific capability
to undertake studies in relevant fields such as biomedical, public health,
pharmaceutical, clinical & traditional medicine.
The formulation of Health Science Technology Policy is based on a firm
commitment to improve the health status of the country's population,
taking cognizance of the prevailing health and health related problems.
-
Life expectancy at birth is estimated 53 years
due to a very high premature mortality.
-
The population is expected to double in the
next two decades leading to considerable pressure on social services.
-
Parasitic & infectious diseases account
for high mortality & morbidity.
-
Malnutrition is prevalent particularly among
children & mothers.
-
Workers in different production sector are exposed
to accidents & illness due to the nature of their occupation.
-
Environmental health problems attribute to the
occurrence of the great proportion of communicable disease in the
country.
-
Inadequate modern health care delivery system
in the country, etc.
According to the recent health policy of the Government of Ethiopia,
emphasis is given to preventive public health. Additionally, due
attention is given to facilitating health service development to
the rural community.
-
It is documented that research and development
in the context of modern medicine started in the 18th century with
the arrival of different foreigners. Through time, with the increasing
number of training & research institutes, the effort of health
research also increased both in type of field & number. These
research efforts, however, were not in a coordinated manner and
most researches were based mainly on individual and rarely on institutional
interests. However, research work is effective and efficient if
all research stakeholders (researcher, decision-makers & communities)
are actively involved in the whole process.
Therefore, the Ethiopian Government has expressed its commitment
for the development of Science & Technology in general and Health
Science Technology in particular by issuing:
-
The Health Science & Technology Policy,
based on ENHR strategy
-
Health Research & Development Priorities
-
Health Research Funding Procedures & Guidelines
-
Health Research Ethical Clearance Guidelines
Back to top
The National Health Science
& Technology Policy has clearly defined objectives, policy
directives and strategies. The policy maps out organizational framework
for coordination, promotion & development of Science & Technology
activities in the sector.
General Policy Objectives
-
To utilize health science & Technology help
improve the health status of the population at large & undeserved
Ethiopians in particular
-
To guide, coordinate, support & promote
Health Science & Technology in order to build up & strengthen
sustainable capacity in Health Science & Technology in the country.
-
To promote Essential National Health Research
(ENHR) strategy in order to ensure equity, multidirectional&
interdisciplinary approaches to accelerate Health Development.
-
To implement these objectives a Health Research
Department with three technical teams under it, is institutionalized
in the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission (ESTC). A National
Health Science & Technology Council (NHSTC) composed of 20 professionals
drawn from Research & Development Institutions, Higher Learning
Institutions, Regional Health Bureau, Individuals (on Merit basis)
&, a Community delegate has been established. The Health Department
also serves as a secretariat of the council.
General Health Research Priorities
-
Health research needs to be guided by policy
& strategy for the improvement of health. It promotes basic
knowledge, quality of services and informs the public about health.
-
The priorities of health research should be
strongly influenced by the anticipated health impact of intervention
expected to result from the research. Based on the National Health
Science & Technology Policy general Health Science & Technology
priority areas are identified. This exercise was a very difficult
& challenging task, due to the absence of complete & reliable
data on the existing health problems of the country. However, attempt
was made to consider in broad terms the magnitude of the problem
from fragmented information on the incidence & prevalence of
diseases, the seriousness of the problem in mortality & morbidity
estimates, disease burden, the community concern and facilities
available in the sector. Further more priorities were based on relevant
Government Policies such as National Health, Drug, Social, and Population
Policies.
Accordingly major priorities areas of National Health Research are:
· Communicable health problems
· Nutritional Health Problem
· Family Health /Maternal & Child Health
· Environmental & Occupational Health
· Health Habits & Practices
· Clinical Research
· Pharmaceutical Research
· Special Health problems
· Health Services Research
· Biomedical Research
· Modern & Indigenous Health Technologies
Departmental Organization
In order to run its activities, the department is organized as follows:
-
Family Planning & Health Services
- Public & Environmental Health
- Medical Equipment, Modern & Traditional Medicine
Back to top
Objective
The main objective of the Department, among others is, to lead, guide,
coordinate, support and promote Health S&T activities in the country
by:-
-
Encouraging National Health Research based on
equity, justice, multisectoral & interdisciplinary approach.
- Organizing & supporting Regional State Health Research Councils
in their capacity building efforts.
- Monitoring & evaluating National Health Science & Technology
Programmes.
- Promoting transfer of health technologies.
- Establishing health research review system.
-
Promoting ethical & essential national health
research.
-
Establishing health research ethics review System.
-
Providing, prompt & efficient ethical review
services
Back to top
Duties & Responsibilities
of the Health Department
-
Prepare short, medium and long-term proposals
on the health research & development activities.
-
Facilitate the coordination between research,
development and users and the transfer of useful research results.
· Support Research &Development activities on the prevention
& control of communicable & parasitic diseases.
· Promote activities that would improve and sustain maternal
child health & techniques helpful for family planning.
· Encourage and support research & studies on causes
and solutions of urban & rural communities health problems.
· Promote & strengthen methods for essential food supply
and appropriate nutrition.
Encourage & support research on traditional medicine and on
health related beliefs and attitudes.
· Support studies & research on environmental pollution
and health problems associated with industry, agriculture, transport,
etc.
· Strengthen research on clean water supply & environmental
sanitation.
· Support studies & research on the prevention of newly
emerging diseases.
Encourage and support research on health service systems.
· Support research on the control of population dynamics.
· Carry out other activities given by the National Health
Science & Technology Council (NHSTC) & Ethiopian Science
& Technology Commission (ESTC)
III. DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
The major activity of the Department is capacity building through:-
1. Conducting training's on Health Research & Development
Back to top
2. Research Grant Support
Through:-
3. Providing Health Research Ethics Review Services by the National
Health Research Ethics Committee (NERC)
- Receives National & International Research Applications
- Review of Applications based on fundamental ethical principles
& the National Guideline
- Decision making as
- Approved
- Approved on condition (s)
- Not Approved
For more information, the National Health Research Ethics Guideline
& Checklist can be collected from the information desk or the
Department
4. Establishing & strengthening Health Research Ethics Review
System at Institutional, Regional and National Levels
National Organization & Structure of Health Science & Technology
-
It is the highest body, which advises the Government
on Health Science & Technology matters.
-
It is accountable to ESTC & mandated to
promote, coordinate & oversee Health Science & Technology
activities in the country.
-
It consists of 20 professional members giving
attention to their professional & gender mix
-
The Council has the following standing committees:
ENHR Committee
-
National Health Science & Technology Institutes
& Centers
· They are responsible to undertake Health Science and Technology
activities, including R&D in areas the Government mandates them.
Regional Health Science & Technology Institutes & Centers
· They are mainly concerned to find solutions to major health
problems by conducting operational research specific to their respective
regions.
Back to top
Health Research Fund Sources
-
Local Research Grants (LRG)
It is a grant award to selected & approved health projects.
It is meant to encourage young researchers. The award is up to 25,000
Bi rr per project. So far about 150 health research projects have
been funded through the LRG scheme.
-
Sida/SAREC Research fund
It is allocated on the basis of bilateral research cooperation agreement
between Ethiopia & Sweden (Sida/SAREC-ESTC)
Back to top
Projects being supported by Sida/SAREC
:
· Butajira Rural Health Project - since
1987
· Burajira Reproductive Health Project- since 1998
· Survey of Blindness and severe visual impairment -since 1997
· PhD Program at Faculty of Medicine, AAU- since 1997
· Control of Acute Respiratory tract Infection (ARI)in Ethiopian
Children-1981-1997
· Community based study of Neurological Disorders in Ethiopia:
"Butajira Neuro " Projects-1983-1997
· Liver Diseases in Ethiopia- 1980-1994
· Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP) at Faculty of
Medicine- AAU-1988-1999
Terminated/or-graduated projects
· IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)
· It is more of technology transfer and local capacity building.
Projects being supported by IAEA:
· Radiotherapy center at MF-AAU (Project No. Eth/6/009) and
Improvement of clinical Radiotherapy (Project No. RAF/6/014)
· Nuclear Medicine center at MF-AAU (Project No. ETH/6/008)
· Radio pharmacy Project
· RIA project at FM-AAU
· RIA Project at Gander College of Medical Sciences
· RIA project at Jimma University-Faculty of Health Sciences.
· Evaluation of supplementary Infant feeding practices project
at EHNRI (Projects No ETH/7/004)
· Sustainable Regional Capability in Nuclear Medicine (Project
No RAF/6/022)
· Consolidated RIA capability for Tumour Markers (Project No.
RAF/6/016
Funding organizations, researchers and their host Institutions, to
mention some of them;
Higher Learning Institutions
-
Health Research Institutions
-
Professional Associations
-
NGO’s and private Sectors
-
Regional Health Bureaus
-
Federal Ministry of Health)
-
Drug Administration & Control Authority
-
HIV/AIDS Prevention & Control Office
-
Swedish International Development Agency
-
International Atomic Energy Agency
Back to top
Collaboration,
Networking and Linkage
-
World Health Organization
- United Nation International Children Fund
-
United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
-
Christian Relief Development Association
-
United Nation Science Education & Culture
Organization
-
COHRED
-
Sida/SAREC
-
Global forum
-
Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia
-
World Vision Ethiopia
Universities/ Colleges/ Health Research Institutions
-
Medical Faculty-AAU
-
Gander College of Medical Science
-
Jimma University - Faculty of Health Sciences
-
Dilla Teacher Education and Health Sciences
-
Alamaya University-Faculty of Health Sciences
-
Institution of Patho-biology, AAU
-
School of Pharmacy, AAU
-
Armauer Hansen Research Institute
-
Ethiopian Health & Nutrition Research Institute
Federal Ministry & Regional States Health Bureaus
- Amhera Regional Health Bureau (ARHB)
- Southern Nations & Nationalities Peoples Regional Health Bureau
(SNNPRHB)
- Tigray Regional Health Bureau
- Beneshangual Gumz Regional Health Bureau
- Somalia Regional Health Bureau
- Oromia Regional Health Bureau
- Afar Regional Health Bureau
- Addis Ababa City Administrative Council Health Bureau
- Harari Regional Health Bureau
- Dire Dawa Administrative Council Health Bureau
- Ministry of Health (Federal)
- Others
For health policy click here
Back to top
Contact Information:
|
|
ESTA Head Office |
