A highly successful research dissemination workshop was held on January 16, 2025, at the Capitain Hotel and Span in Gambella, Ethiopia. The event was organized by the 5S Foundation Ethiopia project in collaboration with the Refugees and Returnees Service Gambella Branch (RRSG). The primary objective of the validation workshop was to disseminate research findings conducted by the 5S PhD researchers and foster discussions and collaboration aimed at preventing scabies among refugees in the camps and the Gambella region.
Various stakeholders participated in the review meeting, including representatives from the Gambella Branch of the Refugees and Returnees Service, staff from Gambella University, members of the Gambella Health Bureau, heads of the four refugee camps, non-governmental organizations, community representatives, religious leaders, women and youth leaders, teachers, and others.
The meeting commenced with welcoming remarks from Mr. Mezgebework G/Mariam, head of the Gambella Branch of the RRS. Mr. Mezgebework provided a brief presentation on the major activities, mandates, achievements, humanitarian services, educational services, and health and nutrition services of the RRSG in the refugee camps. Following this, Mr. Adane Mekonnen, an expert from the Gambella Regional Health Bureau’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Elimination Eradication Team, presented on the current situation and efforts regarding NTDs in the Gambella region.
Next, Professor Genet Tadele, Country Lead and Principal Investigator of the 5S Foundation Ethiopia project, provided an overview of the 5S project, outlining its vision, aims, and expected impact. He highlighted how social science perspectives can contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and discussed the progress and major achievements of the 5S project research team, emphasizing its focus on research, capacity-building activities, and public engagement accomplishments.
Following Professor Genet’s remarks, Dereje Wonde (PhD) presented key findings from his study titled “Everyday Life and Scabies in Debre Elias (Ethiopia): Implications for Disease Control.” His presentation focused on local understandings of scabies, etiological explanations, the impact on vulnerable groups, various treatments, and implications for intervention.
Addisu Tsegaye (PhD) then presented his key research findings from his study titled “Understanding How Precarity and Marginalization Affect Vulnerability to, Experience of, and Response to Scabies Among Refugees in the Gambella Region, Ethiopia.” Addisu’s presentation focused on the ethno-aetiological understanding of scabies in the camp. He discussed how the illness affects caregiving and women’s ability to participate in economic activities, as well as the stigma surrounding the disease. He also highlighted criticisms directed at young people for feeling shame about their appearance and emphasized the neglect of scabies at various levels—household, community, and national—due to inadequate coordination between health authorities and policies, resulting in insufficient reporting and care for the disease.
Lastly, Garedew Yilma, Coordinator of the 5S Foundation, outlined some key public engagement activities that have been carried out thus far. 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 presentation valuable questions and comments were forwarded to the presents and the presenters accepted and addressed them accordingly.
Finally, Prof. Getnet expressed his gratitude to all participants for attending the validation and dissemination workshop. He emphasized the importance of reflecting on and discussing how to further develop the research findings and implement them to improve the lives of people in general, and refugees in particular.
