Zelalem Mekuria, associate director of the infectious disease molecular epidemiology lab for GOHi, traveled to Ethiopia to conduct molecular training at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). The training was organized by GOHi and the east African regional office, GOH LLC, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Earlier this year, GOHi was awarded a cooperative agreement from the U.S.-CDC to expand their laboratory and strengthen the public health system in Ethiopia. The project aims to achieve International Health Regulation (IHR) standards and benchmarks; strengthen surveillance, laboratory and workforce capacity; improve data management; and develop a well-connected response network for disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

With these objectives in mind, Mekuria provided hands-on training to 31 participants from three different directorates within EPHI. Mekuria also presented a seminar entitled “Next generation molecular diagnostics approaches.” The visit was also an opportunity to meet collaborators and assess readiness of the laboratories for upcoming whole genome and metagenomic sequencing training planned at the institute.