Upon successfully completing their subspecialty study, the first intakes of the Urogynecology Fellowship Program, Dr Fekade Ayenachew from the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and Dr Melaku Abriha from Mekelle Hamlin Fistula Center graduated, along with the 9th batch graduates of College of Health Sciences of Mekelle University, on March 10, 2018.
The ceremony was attended by HE Professor Yifru Birhan, Minster of the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Kindeya G/Hiwot, President of Mekelle University, Senate members of the University, the management of the College of Health Sciences, members of the university community, honored guests from oversees, and families and friends of the graduates.
President of Mekelle University, Professor Kindeya G/Hiwot, congratulated the graduating students on the occasion and reminded them of their responsibility to serve their people honestly and exert their respective efforts to ensure the delivery of quality health services to the public. “The major driver behind our transformation has been our strategy to listen, observe, monitor and then act. Thus, at Mekelle University, we have been able to implement a thoroughly unique curriculum, one that aligns directly with the needs of society. We have reached this stage by listening and responding to the world around us, a strategy that will benefit you as you, too, progress to a new job, a new career, and a new life.”
Guest of honor, HE Professor Yifru Birhan also congratulated the graduates and their families during the occasion. “It is a great honor for me to be talking with you today on this very exciting occasion. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address such a talented gathering of hard-working graduating students. This is a great day for you and your families, and I am very happy to be sharing it with you! All I say is know what you want, and then work hard. I am hopeful that your contributions to the Ethiopia’s health sector will be enormous,” he addressed.
During the ceremony, certificate of appreciation was also presented to Professor Kindeya G/Hiwot, Professor Lewis Wall, Dr Renate Roentgen, Dr Karen Gold and Dr Amanuel Haile by Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia for their contributions to the successful realization of the program, launched with a collective vision of building a strong educational, clinical and research training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in sub-Saharan Africa.
The urogynecology program, which is a joint subspecialty fellowship among Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, Worldwide Fistula Fund and Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, consists of three consecutive years of urogynecology training designed to provide the fellows with ever-increasing patient care responsibilities and to achieve full competence in all aspects of diagnosis and management of women with conditions that fall within the limits of urogynecology and female urology. It is the first of its kind in Ethiopia and is accredited through Mekelle University.
Urogynecology, also known as Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, is a specialty focused on the care of women with pelvic floor dysfunction such as incontinence (urinary and fecal leakage), prolapse (bulging or falling of the vaginal tissues), and pelvic pain.
