Addis Ababa University along with International partners: Emory University and University of Alabama at Birmingham and local partners: Wolayita Sodo and Dilla University has received a grant of more than $3.5 million USD for HEPI project.

Obtained from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the HEPI program envisages building capacity at the consortium of local universities in areas of multidisciplinary community based team training, research training and mentorship, implementation science and Interprofessional Education (IPE) with simulation technology. It will also build institution’s infrastructure for administering and supporting international research projects.

Speaking about the new grant, Prof. Miliard Derbew, Principal Investigator of MEPI-JF & HEPI project, has highlighted that the purpose of this grant is to expand and enhance innovative medical and nursing education models; develop strategies that enable graduating health professional students to remain in their work place to practice; increase the quantity and retention of health professionals.

It is to be recalled the same team who has won this grant has also previously won and administrated the MEPI project (10 Million USD) and is currently administrating the MEPI junior faculty project (3.6 million USD).