UoG in collaboration with Jhpiego, Ethiopia establish a skill development laboratory at the College of Medical and Health sciences. The laboratory is inaugurated by the top management of the university and Jhpiego’s country Director Miss. Anna Gypson and other invited guests from various universities.

During the opening ceremony it was made clear that the main objective behind establishing the laboratory are; to provide practical skills to students independently from the hospital, to make students equipped with competency based training and to avoid inconveniencies and ethical problems that probably could occur during practice.

Currently Jhpiego is working in partner with three universities; Gondar, Jimma and Mekelle on HIV/AIDS, Medical laboratory and midwifery. In addition, it also plays a substantial role in organizing ICTunits technically and in linking the universities with international institutions creating a range of opportunities for the universities to create co-operations.

Dr. Mengesha Admassu, President, in his keynote speech addressed that health care provision is one of the single most important fields of study requiring intensive practical sessions with competency based training. Hence, the established of the lab is a step forward in producing professionals to curbing the health problems the country is fighting against.

Similarly, Dr. Sisay Yifru , on his part said, “ the establishment of such high-tech lab is almost unimaginable by our capacity. Thus, investing well more than half a million birr, Jhpiego made our wildest and long awaited dream come true.’’

For long, the department was crippled by the shortage of well-equipped laboratory and skilled manpower which has a direct impact on the quality of health care provided by the practitioners.

Miss. Anna Gypson, on her part, appreciated all the stake holders who have their hands in the success ever since they started working with UoG, way back in 2006. Most importantly she showered Ato yewneetu Desalegn who championed the establishment of the lab taking the initiative from the very beginning passing all the ups and downs. Also, she credited the management always complying with donors’ requirements.

All said, at the moment, never had been a man happier than Ato yewnetu Desalegn, a can-do- attitude young lecturer in the department of nurse, who championed the establishment of the lab. Describing the importance of the lab, Ato Yewnetu said, “today is a special day, all my worries of producing less competent practitioners have shun away. There is other place, from now on, than this lab providing students with skills based training – bringing a difference in life and death.”

In the end , after the guests visited the well-equipped and organized lab, they were very much stunned and happy content with what they have seen. And the young lecturer showered with hugs appreciations and complements from the guests that surfaced his face with lingering smile.