the Forum of Higher Education Institutions in Amhara Region (FHEIAR), the Amhara National Regional State Public Health Institute (APHI) and the Regional Health Bureau signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to work jointly. The Chairperson of FHEIAR and President of Woldia University, Dr. Abebe Girma, remarked that the tripartite agreement is grounded in collaborative action and enables the formulation of sustainable health frameworks.

Dr. Abebe mentioned that the forum operates across education, agriculture, mining, and other sectors, noting that its work in agriculture has been effective and that its engagement with the Public Health Institute is in a promising state. He added that the agreement establishes a collaborative mechanism allowing universities to utilize their capacity to streamline research and training activities in the sector, thereby creating opportunities to better serve the community.

The Secretary General of FHEIAR, Dr. Jejaw Demamu, described APHI as an institution that works directly on the ground at the grass-roots level, regardless of whether challenges exist. He recalled that they are working together by coordinating universities in response to cholera, malaria, displaced persons, and other campaign-based initiatives. He further mentioned that, together with the forum, they are jointly organizing a research conference that engages university scholars.

The Director General of APHI, Mr. Belay Bezabih, stated that the institute, in collaboration with higher education institutions, is carrying out numerous impactful initiatives to enhance the region's health system. He noted that the agreement is vital to ensure that research endeavors are aligned, coordinated, resource-efficient, and ultimately beneficial to the community. The Director General emphasized the necessity of coordinated efforts so that health sector research produces meaningful results and serves as input for policy development.
 

Highlighting that there is strong capacity to translate research and conference outcomes generated by universities and the institute into action, the Director General pointed out the need to leverage this institutional framework effectively. During the session, Associate Professor Dr. Aweraras Hailu, a lecturer and researcher at Debre Berhan University, presented a discussion paper outlining the duties, responsibilities, and implementation strategies of the three institutions, followed by a deliberation's session. It was noted that the agreement document revises and updates the framework utilized five years ago, making it well-suited for effective implementation.