Hawassa University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) Network and key health-sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in the generation, management, sharing, and utilization of population-based health and demographic data for evidence-informed health planning and decision-making.
The MoU was signed at a high-level national event organized by the Impact HDSS Ethiopia Project, bringing together senior representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), and universities and academic institutions hosting HDSS sites across the country, an event aimed to strengthen the governance and sustainability of the HDSS Network, formalize data-sharing and access mechanisms, and enhance the contribution of population-based evidence to national health policies and programs.
Representing Hawassa University and the Dale Wonsho HDSS, Dr. Fitsum W/Gebriel, Chief Executive Director of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences which reaffirms Hawassa University’s commitment to strengthening population-based research, health information systems, and the use of locally generated evidence to inform health-sector planning and policy.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of EPHI, emphasized the importance of a coordinated and standardized HDSS network in generating reliable, longitudinal population-level evidence to support Ethiopia’s health priorities. He noted that the national network currently brings together 14 public universities, one college, and 15 surveillance sites, covering nearly 1.4 million people across more than 256,000 households.
Dr. Muluken Argaw, Strategic Lead Executive Office Director at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of reliable population-based data for health policy development, strategic planning, resource allocation, and targeted interventions. He underscored the need for sustained collaboration among the Ministry of Health, EPHI, and academic institutions to ensure that high-quality evidence generated at community level contributes effectively to national decision-making.
The event also featured technical presentations on the sustainability of the HDSS Network and data access and sharing, with particular emphasis on strengthening data governance, standardization, digital integration, and institutional collaboration. Through this partnership, Hawassa University will continue to contribute to the generation and application of high-quality population-based evidence to support improved health planning, policy development, and health outcomes in Ethiopia.
