5S Foundation Ethiopia

🌟 Check out the media coverage of our recent 5S project research dissemination and stakeholders engagement workshop held in Hawassa below!

Highlights from South Radio & Television Agency below:
👉 Link: https://youtu.be/j18UHxD-LvE?si=DwTpg1PO19ftZ26_

የማህበረሰቡን ጤና የሚጎዱ ተላላፊና ተላላፊ ያልሆኑ በሽታዎችን በመከላከል ረገድ ሁሉም ባለድርሻ አካላት የበኩላቸውን ድርሻ ሊወጡ እንደሚገባ ተገለፀ የማህበረሰቡን ጤና የሚጎዱ ተላላፊና ተላላፊ ያልሆኑ በሽታዎችን በመከላከል ረገድ ሁሉም ባለድርሻ አካላት የበኩላቸውን ድርሻ ሊወጡ እንደሚገባ ተገለፀዘጋቢ፡ ጠቅልል ቀድሩ #ደሬቴድ ...

The 5S Foundation Ethiopia Project successfully conducted the research dissemination and stakeholder engagement workshop on February 10, 2026, at the South Star International Hotel in Hawassa, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. The event was organized by the 5S Foundation Ethiopia Project in collaboration with the Sidama Regional Health Bureau. The workshop created an important platform for dialogue and learning on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly skin NTDs such as podoconiosis and scabies.

Skin NTDs continue to affect vulnerable communities across Ethiopia, often impacting livelihoods, education, and social wellbeing. Recognizing this, the workshop aimed not only to share research findings but also to strengthen partnerships, stimulate innovation, and highlight national best practices in the prevention and management of these conditions.

The event brought together a diverse mix of participants, including representatives from the Sidama Regional Health Bureau, Social and Women Affairs Bureau, Hawassa City Administration offices, Hawassa University, community and religious leaders, NGOs, and partners working in health and WASH sectors. This diversity of voices enriched discussions and reinforced the importance of coordinated, multispectral responses to NTDs.

Opening the workshop, Mr. Belayneh, Vice Head of the Sidama Regional Health Bureau, emphasized the growing attention being given to NTDs at national and regional levels. He highlighted the value of research dissemination forums in shaping policy and strengthening decision-making, while underscoring the need for stronger collaboration across sectors to effectively address NTD challenges.
Participants then received an overview of the 5S Foundation Ethiopia Project from Prof. Genet Tadele, Country Lead and Principal Investigator. He outlined the project’s vision and highlighted how social science research is helping to better understand the lived experiences of people affected by skin NTDs. He also shared key achievements of the project, including research outputs, capacity strengthening efforts, and public engagement initiatives that connect research with communities.

Throughout the day, 5S project post doc and PhD researchers presented findings from studies conducted across Ethiopia, exploring podoconiosis and scabies in rural communities, urban settings, refugee contexts, and among vulnerable populations such as school children and street-connected children. These presentations highlighted not only the medical dimensions of NTDs, but also the social, economic, and cultural factors that shape vulnerability, stigma, care-seeking behavior, and disease management.

The workshop also showcased the 5S Project’s public engagement work, including innovative approaches to working with schools, students, and community structures to promote awareness and behavioral change.

Lively discussion followed each session, with participants raising thoughtful questions, sharing field experiences, and offering practical recommendations. The discussions reflected a shared commitment to strengthening evidence-based programming and ensuring research findings translate into real improvements in people’s lives.

In his closing reflections, Prof. Genet Tadele thanked participants for their active engagement and stressed the importance of community ownership in research and program implementation. He highlighted the need to strengthen implementation research, particularly within primary health care and universal health coverage frameworks, and called for stronger integration of NTD interventions within broader health programs.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Ongamo Hanaga, Vice Head of the Sidama Regional Public Health Institute, who reaffirmed the region’s commitment to tackling NTDs through partnership, research, and coordinated action.

The Hawassa workshop marked another important step in strengthening collaboration among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and communities working toward the prevention and control of skin NTDs in Ethiopia.

https://ntdsresearch.org/2026/02/18/successful-dissemination-workshop-held-in-hawassa-sidama-regional-state/

Strengthening Action on Skin NTDs!

I am delighted to share that I had the opportunity to represent the 5S Foundation Ethiopia team and present our public engagement work titled “Taking the Research to the Public: A Glimpse into the 5S Project's Public Engagement Initiatives and its Implications for Universal Health Coverage.”
The abstract was accepted for oral presentation in the session on Mental Health, Trauma, Disability, and Psychosocial Well-being at the inaugural York St John University Annual Conference, held under the theme “Interdisciplinary Innovation for a Sustainable Future” on October 6–7, 2025, at the London Campus.
It was an honour to showcase how the 5S Project integrates research and public engagement from inception to dissemination focusing on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly skin NTDs and to highlight the project’s contributions to stigma reduction and community empowerment.
I shared highlights of our multi-level engagement efforts, ranging from stakeholder policy dialogues and community of practice initiatives to creative communication products such as documentary films, music productions, brochures, and posters. The presentation illustrated how these approaches have helped promote inclusive health practices, reduce stigma and discrimination, and strengthen community ownership. It was truly inspiring to see the strong interest from participants, who emphasized the importance of scaling up and sustaining such impactful public engagement initiatives across research programs.
Grateful to our dedicated public engagement colleagues from 5S Ethiopia and BSMS, UK.
Special thanks to Prof. Getnet, Jenni, and Alice for their continuous support and for making my participation possible, and to BSMS and NIHR for sponsoring my conference attendance.
Finally, thanks to York St John University and Obasanjo for hosting such an inspiring and interdisciplinary event.

እንኳን ለ2018 ዓ.ም በሠላም አደረሳችሁ
መልካም አዲስ ዓመት!
Happy Ethiopian New Year!

Please watch Professor Getnet's insightful interview with renowned artists Mulalem Tadese and Michael Tamrie on EBC TV!

👉 Watch the full interview here:

12ኛ ክፍል ባላልፍ እራሴን ላጠፋ እችል ነበር | ፕሮፌሰር ጌትነት ታደለ | ዚያራ | እሑድ ቤት | Professor Getnet Tadele እሑድ ቤት ፕሮፌሰር ጌትነት ታደለን ዘይሯል።12ኛ ክፍል ባላልፍ እራሴን ላጠፋ እችል ነበር የሚሉት ያያኔው ተማሪ ተሳክቶላቸው ዛሬ ፕሮፌሰር ናቸው።ሞት ወይም ኮሌጅ ብለው በትምህርት የ.....

The latest research article by Dr. Kibur Engdawork and senior professors from the 5S Foundation, titled "Interaction of Contextual, Setting, and Implementation Factors on a Podoconiosis Intervention in Rural Ethiopia," has just been published in PLOS ONE!

It's a must-read for anyone interested in public health, social science, and innovative solutions for neglected tropical diseases.

🚨 New Article Alert! | Kibur Engdawork 🚨 New Article Alert! 🚨 🦶🏾💥 Context meets complexity in rural Ethiopia! Thrilled to share that our latest article — "Interaction of contextual, setting and implementation factors on a podoconiosis intervention in Rural Ethiopia" — is now published in PLOS ONE! 🎉 https:...

You are invited!

Please join an important panel discussion with Dr. Kibur Engdawork on "Su***de and Lives at Risk" happening on July 6th at 2 PM. This engaging conversation will explore the critical interplay between health, illness, and society.

For more details, check out our LinkedIn announcement below!

Panel Discussion Alert: This One’s Personal or is it Social? | Kibur Engdawork Panel Discussion Alert: This One’s Personal or is it Social? This week we’re getting sociological. Mentalweg invites you to a rare and powerful panel discussion with Dr. Kibur Engdawork (PhD), Assistant Professor of Sociology at Addis Ababa University a detective of how health, illness, and soci...