The Ethiopian Public Health Association conducted regional chapter supervision visits in 7 regions from March 15-27, 2015. The objectives were to restructure chapters, recruit new members, distribute publications and equipment, and orient chapters on a new data management system. Over 500 health professionals participated in discussion meetings. A new chapter was also established in Gambella region. Issues raised by professionals included unfair salary scales and lack of hazard pay. EPHA aims to address members' rights and promote itself throughout Ethiopia.
EPHA Promotional activities at Gambella ,Oromia and SNNPR
1. Introduction
Ethiopian Public Health Association promotes the ever improving quality of health services to the public through
advocacy, networking and the active and dedicated involvement of its members. It has more than 5600members
belonging to varying professional categories and level of qualification, and serving in private, government and non-
government organization distributed across the country.
The association has good working relationship both with governmental and nongovernmental organizations as well as
universities within Ethiopia and abroad. The main department that plays a pivotal role in establishment of this
relation is members and networking department.
From March15- 27,2015Members Affairs and Networking Department has conducted regional chapters supervision in
Gambella ,Mettu ,Agaro ,Mizan Teferi ,Jimma,Wolkite and Woliso. Beside the supervision, establishment of one new
additional chapter in Gambella Region (Gambella) was successfully done and the detail of the report is as follows:
TEAM
1. Yusuf Abdu ( From Members affairs dept. Team Leader)
2. Daniel Zenebe (From Members affairs dept .Data management )
3. Leykun Birhanu(Driver)
ACTIVITIES
1. To re-structure and establish new chapter in Gambella region
2. To distribute receipts to focal persons and chapter offices for collection of membership fees.
2. 3. To visit previously opened EPHA branch offices and appoint focal persons for vacant places
4. To distribute equipment and furniture for newly established offices
5. To distribute EPHA Publications like the Ecology of the Epidemiology ,scientific journals and other back issues.
6. To do promotional work and recruit new members in order to increase EPHA members.
7. To orient the new web based data management system to the selected regions.
8. To distribute research questions to health professionals in Gambella region.
NB. Please see the photo gallery next to this table
Date Place Site Number of
people
attended
the meeting
Main activities done
17/10/2014 Gambella Gambella Regional Health
Bureau
7 Discussion among professionals from different health
institution university and healthscience college on
estabelishment of Gambelle regional chapter ,
delivering office equipment to chapter office ,
18/3/2015 Gambella Gambella Health Science
College ,Gambella
Hospital, Gambella Health
Center
25 Promotional activity on EPHA activities ,distribution of
publications, recruitment of new members ,assigning of
focal persons for each institutions,distributing research
questions .
19/3/2015 Mettu Mettu University, Mettu
Zonal Health department,
Mettu Health Science
College
240 Promotional activity on EPHA activities ,distribution of
publications, recruitment of new members ,assigning of
focal persons for each institutions
20/3/2015 Agaro Woreda Healthdepartment
,Health center
10 “ “
3. 23/3/2015 Mizan Teferi Zonal Healthdepartment
,Mizan Tepi University ,
Mizan Hospital ,Mizan
Aman HealthScience
College
110 “ “
24/3/2015 Jima Town Jima Zonal Health
Department ,Jimma
Health center
16 “ “
25/3/2015 Jima Town Jimma University 40 “ “
26/3/2015 Wolkite Wolkite University ,Wolkite
Zonal Department ??
45 “ “
27/3/2015 Woliso journey
to Addis
Woliso Lukas Health
Science College ,Woliso
Zonal Health Department
7 “ “
Important pointes raisedby professionals working in healthbureauand health service delivery institutions
As itwas reported byhealthprofessionalsinvariousinstitutions one of the objectives of professional associations istoensure the rightof theirmembers
but there issignificantproblemespeciallyincarrier structure andsalaryscale in governmentalinstitution,the examplesgivenwere:
Rank andSalary increment fornursesandhealthofficersisnotfair
Midwiveshave occupationalhazardallowance,whereasclinical nursesworkinginobstetricarea do nothave any allowance
Duty allowance offeredforhealthofficersandnursesdoesn’tconsiderthe amountof hourslasted on dutytime.
The newsalary incrementforgovernmentemployee diplomaholder’shealthprofessionalsisnotfair
4. Finallytheystronglynotedthat EPHA shouldplayapivotal role forthe respectof the right of its members
Positive feedback
Almostall professionalsexcept genericstudentshave adequate informationonEPHA andappreciatedthe annual conference sessionsanditsperiodical
publications.Mostof themagainare verymuch interestedtobe the memberof thisveteranassociation
Comment forwarded
EPHA isexpectedtogofurtherinpromotingitself,evenly distributingits publicationthroughoutthe nationandstrengtheningchaptersactivitytoreachthe
unreachedatgrass root level .
Photo Gallery
Discussion with Gambella regional EPHA chapter and introducing the new web based data management system
5. Delivering IT equipment and office furniture to the new Gambella Regional Office by EPHA Supervision team