Hawassa University

and enhance efforts of our national sustainable goals”. He remarked that HU continues to leverage its five decades legacy of human capital development and research to expand high-impact research, train the next generation of malaria scholars, and provide critical technical and material support to local health institutions. Dr. Tafesse underscored the fact that malaria is not just a health problem, and that it’s rather one of the dangerous infections threatening sustainable development goals with its multidimensional negative impacts on human health, economic productivity, health services and political stability. He sincerely appreciated the tireless efforts of Dr. Dawit and his team in winning international trust and collaboration for Hawassa University and realize the establishment of the research center, and pledged official commitment from HU to make it a center of excellence. Dr. Dawit Hawaria, Director and lead researcher of MVBDRC at HU, presented empirical evidence analyzing local and national malaria trends, related human challenges, and possible ways of mitigation. He highlighted that despite global goals to eliminate malaria by 2030, rising annual infection rates indicate an expanding gap between targets and ground reality. Dr. Dawit pointed to changing vector behaviors, rapid development activities, and climate change and weak collaboration among key stakeholders as major driving factors behind the resurgence. The platform included expert panel discussion featuring Mr. Karisa Dafursa (Director of Disease Prevention and Control at Sidama Regional Health Bureau), Dr. Tafesse Matewos (VPRC at HU and Policy and development researcher), Dr. Melisew Dejene (Journalism and Development & Policy Studies Researcher at HU), and Dr. Taye Gari (Public Health Researcher at HU), moderated by Dr. Dawit Hawaria. The panel discussion covered the complex realities of malaria prevention and control in Sidama Region and Ethiopia at large. Panelists underscored the necessity of strategic, multi-sectorial collaboration and mainstreaming health advocacy across all relevant government and community sectors to achieve the goal of malaria elimination. The consultative workshop is part of the ongoing five years international collaborative research initiative between Hawassa University, the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, and the University of California, Irvine. Hawassa University Ever to Excel!

Hawassa University Organizes a Consultative Workshop on Advocacy of Multi-Sectorial Collaboration for Malaria Elimination August 16, 2026 Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center (MVBDRC) at Hawassa University, in collaboration with Office of the Vice President for Research & Collaboration (VPRC), convened a high-level consultative workshop on advocacy for Multi-Sectorial Collaboration for Malaria Elimination, on August 15, 2026, bringing together key health sector stakeholders from the Sidama National Regional State. In his opening speech, Dr. Tafesse Matewos, V/President for Research & Collaboration at HU, emphasized that addressing community health challenges remains a core institutional priority for Hawassa University. “Situated at the heart of the Great East African Rift Valley,” Dr. Tafesse declares, “Hawassa University is the right institution to establish a highly equipped malaria and other vector-borne diseases and join hands with all relevant stakeholders to fight the disease

Dr. Tafesse remarked that the policy dialogue has three major goals: to critically evaluate how Ethiopia's crop policy and strategy reforms have influenced productivity over time and their actual contribution towards sustainable agricultural transformation; to assess the achievements, operational challenges, and overall food security impacts of national flagship initiatives, leveraging empirical evidence to address implementation gaps and define clear priorities; and to examine crop productivity trends, key drivers, and persistent yield gaps to identify research priorities that will build agricultural resilience, boost yield, and secure the Ethiopian food systems. The Vice President expressed heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa for the continued support, Hawassa University researchers for their dedication and commitment, Prof. Andargachew Gedebo for his leadership of the ICP V project, the college’s management and the workshop organizers for being able to bring together scientists and government representatives for a grand agenda. Dr. Tewodros Ayalew, an agricultural researcher from HU, presented a review of the evolution of Ethiopian agriculture policy and major reforms over the years, flagship national initiatives, and crop productivity trends as well as bottlenecks and the way forward as a starting point of the policy dialogue. Representatives of the scientific community and government bodies in the agricultural sector from both federal and regional offices attended the workshop and discussed ways to amend gaps in linking evidence-based research, policy design and implementation for the future as a way of transforming Ethiopian agriculture sector and food system which covers the lion’s share of the national GDP. Hawassa University Ever to Excel!