The primary objective of the validation workshop was to share the research findings from the 5S post-doctoral researcher and PhD researchers, as well as to highlight key public engagement activities conducted thus far by the project team and PiEE. Additionally, the workshop aimed to foster discussions and collaborations focused on preventing and controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly podoconiosis and scabies, in the Amhara region and specifically within the project’s study sites/woredas.
A diverse group of stakeholders participated in the dissemination workshop, including leaders and members of the Amhara Health Bureau and NTD team, staff from Bahir Dar, Debre Markos, and Injibara Universities, NTD focal points from zonal and woreda health bureaus, heads of woreda education bureaus, representatives from various non-governmental organizations working on NTDs, community representatives, community leaders, podoconiosis patients, women leaders, teachers, school principals, and others.
Welcoming Remark
The workshop commenced with welcoming remarks from Prof. Getnet Tadele, Country Lead and Principal Investigator of the 5S Foundation Ethiopia project. Prof. Getnet warmly welcomed all participants and noted that this dissemination workshop is a continuation of previous validation and review meetings. He emphasized the importance of discussing the developments and progress made since those meetings. He also mentioned that the 5S Foundation project had organized an inception meeting when the project began four years ago and that this dissemination workshop aims to share research findings and discuss strategies for implementing changes and ensuring sustainability.
Presentations on NTD programmes and 5S Foundation
Following the welcoming remark, Mr. Addisus Abebe, Head of the Amhara Regional Health Bureau’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) department, presented in details about the current situation, burden, treatments, performances and efforts regarding NTDs and WASH –NTD coordination activities in the Amhara region. He also highlighted the key program challenges and program activities plan.
Next, Professor Genet Tadele, provided an overview of the 5S project, outlining its vision, aims, and expected impact. Prof. Getnet emphasized the need to rethink neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by moving beyond the medical model, which views disease solely as a biological issue. He argued that health is influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors, with social determinants of health—such as poverty, education, and inequality—playing a crucial role in health outcomes. NTDs disproportionately affect marginalized communities with limited access to healthcare and basic necessities. He also mentioned that social science perspectives are essential for achieving project objectives as they contextualize health issues, acknowledge their complexity, and incorporate people’s perspectives. 5S also aid in developing culturally informed interventions by examining differential exposure to risk factors and understanding vulnerability to disease.
Prof. Getnet also discussed the progress and major achievements of the 5S project research team, emphasizing its focus on research, capacity-building activities, and public engagement accomplishments. In conclusion, he emphasized that social science provides a vital framework for understanding the human dimensions of health, highlighting the interconnectedness of behavior, societal structures, and health outcomes. To effectively address health issues, actions must extend beyond biomedical solutions to also consider social and economic circumstances.
Presentations on Research Findings
Following Prof. Genet’s remarks, Dr. Kibur Engdawork, a postdoctoral research fellow at the 5S Foundation project, presented his key findings from a study titled “The Effect of a Social Intervention in Enhancing the Lives of Individuals Affected by Podoconiosis: The Case of an Intervention Implemented in West Gojjam and South Gondar Zones.” In his presentation, Dr. Kibur outlined the study’s objectives, framework, and methodologies he applied. Dr. Kibure’s key research findings/results focusing on three main factors that influence the implementation of interventions: contextual factors, implementation factors, and setting factors.
Dr. Kibur identified several contextual factors affecting intervention implementation, including political support through national programs and guidelines, socio-cultural issues like gender inequality, and misconceptions surrounding podoconiosis. He also discussed implementation factors such as the integration of podoconiosis care into local health services, training for health professionals, and the importance of outreach, accessibility, and sustainability. Regarding the setting, he noted that two NGOs, IOCC and NaPAN, effectively implemented the intervention, benefiting from suitable physical environments and strong organizational structures. However, these NGOs faced challenges like funding shortages and a lack of sustainable outcomes.
Based on his findings, Dr. Kibur recommended several strategies to enhance intervention effectiveness: implementing home-based support for affected individuals, providing psychosocial support and economic empowerment programs, expanding health education campaigns to combat public stigma through traditional organizations, and improving the healthcare system. He emphasized the need for better allocation of government funds, community engagement, enhancement of human and technical resources, diversification of funding sources, and the development of appropriate policies and evaluation frameworks for a mainstreaming approach.
Next, Dr. Dereje Wonde, a PhD research fellow at the 5S Foundation project, presented his findings on scabies in Debre Elias, Ethiopia, in a study titled “Everyday Life and Scabies in Debre Elias: Implications for Disease Control.” He began his presentation by providing a background information and mentioning the objectives, the methodologies and study sites. He mentioned that the local understanding of scabies, referred to as ‘meshe mekeraye’ or “the agony of the night” due to its severe itchiness that intensifies in the evening. Dr. Dereje highlighted that the local population distinguishes between two types of scabies—abash ekek (active scabies) and denkoro ekek (dormant scabies)—based on symptoms rather than biomedical classifications. Additionally, scabies is often perceived as a disease associated with poverty, with those in extreme poverty colloquially labeled as ekekam, or “bearers of scabies,” regardless of their actual health status.
Dr. Dereje emphasized that vulnerability to scabies varies among individuals due to factors such as living conditions, gender roles, socio-economic status, and religious practices. In Debre Elias, infants, breastfeeding women, and religious students are particularly affected. He noted that scabies is so prevalent that many view it as a trivial illness, leading to a tendency to delay seeking treatment. Most individuals resort to self-medication or traditional remedies before consulting biomedical health facilities. Dr. Dereje criticized existing scabies control interventions for relying predominantly on biomedical solutions that fail to address the recurring outbreaks effectively. He called for a shift toward context-specific interventions that consider the broader social, ecological, and economic factors influencing scabies to tackle its underlying social determinants more effectively.
Dr. Addisu Tsegaye, a PhD research fellow at the 5S Foundation project, presented his findings from fieldwork conducted in the Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp in Gambella, Ethiopia. His presentation, titled “Understanding How Precarity and Marginalization Affect Refugees’ Vulnerability to, Experience of, and Response to Scabies,” examined how the various stages of migration impact refugees’ susceptibility to scabies. He highlighted that the inadequate services at reception centers—such as healthcare, water, and sanitation—along with prolonged stays in overcrowded makeshift shelters, contribute to the prevalence of scabies among refugees. Even after relocating to the permanent Nguenyyiel camp, refugees remain vulnerable as the focus of the administration is on reducing their stay rather than addressing health issues like scabies. Structural problems within the camp, including limited healthcare access and overcrowding, further exacerbate this vulnerability.
Dr. Addisu noted that scabies, locally referred to as Gogne or Gutyiel in the Nuer language, has become normalized among adult refugees, who view it as an inevitable part of refugee life. In contrast, younger individuals experience stigma and shame associated with the condition due to its association with poor hygiene. This dichotomy has led to a culture of tolerance and neglect surrounding scabies, resulting in delayed healthcare consultations at both individual and community levels. The neglect of scabies is also linked to the broader marginalization of refugees within national and international frameworks, where refugee camps are often treated as long-term solutions rather than temporary measures. To effectively combat scabies in these communities, Dr. Addisu emphasized the need for community engagement strategies, including educational programs involving schools and health workers. He concluded that addressing the root causes of refugee vulnerability necessitates implementing durable solutions as outlined in Ethiopia’s 2019 refugee proclamation and other international commitments.
Presentations on Pubic Engagement Activities
Mr. Yehalem Abebe, Executive Director of Partners in Education Ethiopia (PiEE), presented on project activities implemented in partnership with the 5S Foundation. He began his presentation by providing background information about the major activities of PiEE. He noted that the specific project which is related to the 5S foundation was carried out in five schools and nearby communities, targeting 5,510 students and 96,030 community members in the Awil and East Gojjam zones. He also mentioned that one of the project’s objectives was to raise awareness about the causes and prevention measures for Podoconiosis and scabies, as well as to promote service-seeking behaviors.
Mr. Yehalem then outlined the key activities conducted during the project implementation period, which included obtaining buy-in through familiarization, awareness-raising activities and events both in and out of school, conducting a baseline survey, developing educational and communication materials, and providing training for students, teachers, and Community Health Workers. He emphasized the importance of integration in the project design, highlighting the coordination between health and education and the need to harness the power of students and grassroots solutions to address hidden community challenges as key takeaways.
Following Mr. Yehalem’s presentation, Mr. Garedew Yilma, Coordinator of the 5S Foundation, outlined some key public engagement activities that have been carried out thus far by the project public engagement team members. These include establishing communities of practice in the Amhara region, forming partnerships and co-organizing events with important stakeholders, conducting capacity-building activities, creating community engagement initiatives, and producing communication materials such as music, documentaries, short films, brochures, and posters.
Following the presentations, a question-and-answer session was chaired by Professor Getnet. Workshop participants posed various questions and comments regarding methodologies and interventions to the presenters, who responded and addressed them accordingly.
Finally, Mr. Yehalem in his closing expressed his gratitude to all participants for attending the validation and dissemination workshop. He emphasized the importance of reflecting on and discussing ways to further develop the research findings and implement them to improve the lives of people in general, and those affected in particular. With this, the validation workshop concluded.
