Training the Trainers Day- Bahir Dar University

Dr Fuller and other participants at the Training the Trainers Day

The University of Bahir Dar (BDU) hosted a Training of the Trainers day in February 2013 to teach lecturers in Public Health how to teach podoconiosis management and prevention.

Lecturers in Public Health came together with local government health officials and podoconiosis experts lead by Dr Wendemagegn to exchange ideas, and work together to brainstorm how podo care could be escalated in the Bahir Dar region.

The day was introduced by an eloquent and visionary speech by Dr Tesfaye, the Vice President for Research reminding us that BDU is fully signed up to delivering meaningful support to its community and podo care will be one of its projects.

They are already supporting Wendemagegn by providing a car to take him to and from his weekly podo clinic in Durbete and look forward to doing more.

Wendemegagen demonstrates how to perform the skin care to a willing volunteer.

Dr Tesfaye also recognised the research and academic potential that working closely with this disease and its patients could provide. Additionally Mr Ayele the Regional Health Bureau head attended the day and he too undertook to lead on strategic and practical support for not only growing the provision of care by the government health services in the region but also taking this back to central MoH.

This is with a view to sharing the good practice and model of lymphoedema care with the whole MoH with a view to recommending adoption of this approach into the “Health Packages” currently being implemented across the country by the Health Extension Workers, the key deliverers of health care to the Ethiopian public.

“I was very impressed by the passion and commitment shown by the academic and government staff present at this training day. Inspired by the heart felt presentations from a number of podo experts the Bahir Dar participants captured the vision and I know they will deliver. WATCH THIS SPACE!” Dr Claire Fuller