Seminar

EHEPA SEMINAR 39 Title Title: From Global Consensus to Local Action: Driving Health Literacy Forward in Ethiopia Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Dr. Guda Alemayehu—a globally recognized Ethiopian health literacy leader and co-author of the recently published Economist Impact report, “From Consensus to Action: Driving Progress on Health Literacy. This seminal report, developed with leading global experts, reveals that low health literacy affects nearly one in four adults across 40 countries, costing health systems billions annually. More critically, it shifts the responsibility from individual patients to systems, governments, and professionals. Date & Time Friday May 8, 2026 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/ipe-tkag-xuc?hs=224 Description of the Presentation In this one-hour session, I will translate global consensus into actionable insights for Ethiopia. Drawing on my leadership of the African Health Literacy Network and lessons from successful national programs (including Ethiopia’s own Health Extension Programme), I will outline five concrete opportunities for action: adopting a whole-of-society approach, making health literacy a core organizational capability, co-creating inclusive information resources, combating misinformation, and strengthening measurement. The presentation will help to understand how health literacy can drive health equity, save lives, and reduce costs—starting right here in Ethiopia. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 38 Title Risk communication and Community Engagement in Marbug virus Disease Outbreak Response: Lesson, Gaps and Future Perspectives Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Yibeyin Mulualem is a public health professional with expertise in risk communication and community engagement, public health surveillance, and outbreak response. He has experience working in public health emergencies including infectious disease outbreaks, where he contributes strengthen community-based interventions and improving communication strategies. His work focus on bridging technical public health efforts with community needs, promoting trust, and enhancing the effectiveness of emergency response. He is now working as early warning and RCCE division head in Ethiopian public health institute, under the ministry of health. Date & Time Friday April 03, 2026 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link Description of the Presentation As we all know, Ethiopia reported its first ever Marburg virus diseases/MVD/ in November 2025. Following the confirmation of the outbreak, the institute activated the Incident Management System (IMS) to ensure a coordinated and effective outbreak response. Risk communication and community engagement is one of the critical pillars that connect technical interventions with the people they are meant to protect and serve. In this seminar, we will highlight the RCCE lesson learned, gaps identified and future perspectives in RCCE interventions. These insights aim to strengthen understanding, improve response strategies, and enhance preparedness for the future pandemics. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 37 Title Behavioral, Social, and Structural Drivers of HPV Vaccine Uptake and Parental Confidence Among Out-of-School Adolescent Girls in Ethiopia Subtitle: Findings from Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, and Somali Regions Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Assistant Professor of Health Education and Promotion, Project Officer EHEPA Date & Time Friday March 06, 2026 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link Description of the Presentation This seminar will present findings from a community-based study assessing HPV vaccine uptake and parental confidence among out-of-school adolescent girls in underserved regions of Ethiopia. The study applies the WHO Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) framework to explore awareness, motivation, social norms, and structural barriers to vaccination. Results highlight low uptake (30.4%), limited awareness of cervical cancer and HPV, and the critical role of parental confidence and health worker recommendations. The presentation will discuss key predictors of uptake, barriers to equitable access, and actionable recommendations for community-based outreach and health system strengthening. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 36 Title Reimagining Urban Slum Immunization Services: A Human-Centered Approach to Reaching Underserved Children Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Finina Abebe (Immunization Officer at CHAI Ethiopia) Date & Time Friday Jan 30, 2026 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/yrg-ckcr-sug?hs=224 Description of the Presentation this presentation discusses an intervention implemented in Addis Ababa, Nifas Silk-Lafto Sub-City, Woreda 14. The intervention was co-designed with end users using a Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach to address immunization gaps among underserved children in urban slum settings. The session highlights the design process, implementation experience, and key learnings from engaging communities and frontline workers to improve service delivery. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 35 Title Human-Centered Design in Action for Immunization Demand Promotion: Lessons from Ethiopia Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Dr. Adugna Endale (Tailored Immunization SBCStrategies National Consultant, UNICEF Ethiopia) Date & Time Wednesday Dec 31, 2025 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link Wednesday Dec 31, 2025 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Description of the Presentation This seminar will explore Ethiopia’s experiencein applying HCD approach to strengthen immunization demand promotion. It willpresent practical HCD applications implemented across diverse contexts, with aparticular focus on documented achievements in addressing demand-relatedbarriers to vaccination. The session will also discuss key implementationchallenges, synthesize lessons learned, and explore future prospects forinstitutionalizing HCD approaches within immunization and other public healthprograms. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 34 Title Behavioral Sciences Hijacked: How it's abused and misused in the commercial determinants of health. Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Wallelign Alemnew Assistant Professor of Health Education & Promotion University of Gondar Date & Time Friday Oct 31, 2025 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/hco-bkki-jjq?hs=224 Description of the Presentation This presentation summarizes findings from a systematic review examining the effectsof community-based health education interventions on health literacy amongadults. Itexplores how various community-driven programs, including peer education,participatory workshops, and multimedia campaigns, influence individuals’ability to access, understand, and apply health information. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 33 Title Behavioral Sciences Hijacked: How it's abused and misused in the commercial determinants of health. Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Eshetu Girma (PhD) Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Date & Time Tuesday, September 30 · 11:00am – 12:00pm Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/iuc-twgn-pvo Description of the Presentation The burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions is rising rapidly in low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia, largely driven by the influence of commercial determinants of health. This seminar will explore what commercial determinants of health are and their consequences for NCDs and mental health. We will examine how behavioral and structural strategies—including colonial legacies—are misused and abused to promote unhealthy products and services. Finally, the session will discuss ways to counter these industry tactics through behavioral science perspectives and approaches. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 32 Title Fighting Health Misinformation in Ethiopia: Myths, Media, and Mobilizing the Public Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Dr. Trhas Tadesse Associate Professor of Public Health Date & Time Thursday, August 28 · 11:00am – 12:00pm Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/efs-dbwr-eru Description of the Presentation Health misinformation undermines public trust, fuels harmful practices, and hampers effective healthcare in Ethiopia. This presentation explores common health myths, the role of traditional and digital media in shaping public perceptions, and the societal impact of misinformation. Practical strategies for mobilizing communities, strengthening media literacy, and promoting evidence-based health communication will be shared. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 31 Title Community Dialogues for CL Prevention: Addressing Social and Behavioral Barriers in Kalu District Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Takele Gezahegn,( Assistant Professor at SPHMMC, PhD Candidate AAU) Date & Time Friday, May 30 · 11:00am – 12:00pm Modality Virtual Meeting link https://meet.google.com/txa-tpjc-usp Description of the Presentation This presentation highlights the role of community dialogue as a health promotion strategy for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) prevention in Kalu District. By addressing social and behavioral barriers, it seeks to educate and motivate communities to strengthen participatory approaches and enhance prevention efforts. Together, we can foster more inclusive and sustainable engagement strategies for CL control. Download

EHEPA SEMINAR 30 Title Navigating international funding cuts and building resilience: Discussion on challenges and the way forward Organizer Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professionals Association (EHEPA) Brief biography of the presenter Eshetu Girma (PhD) Former President of EHEPA Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya Date & Time Friday Mar 26, 2025 ⋅ 11am – 12pm (East Africa Time) Modality Virtual Meeting link Description of the Presentation Open discussion Download