The first Pan African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA) Ethiopia Chapter was launched at Jimma University through a virtual inaugural conference held at Jimma University today. PAMCA Ethiopia Chapter has a mission to provide an Ethiopian-led platform for scientists and public health professionals as well as other stakeholders to set the agenda for the surveillance, control, and elimination of malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
Moreover, it has the following strategic themes which include, research, capacity building, collaboration, and partnership. The overall aim of (PAMCA) Ethiopia Chapter is to promote research on mosquitoes, mosquito-borne diseases, and related subjects, disseminate information, and influence public health policy and practice in Ethiopia.
Jimma University president, Dr. Jemal Abafita in his opening remark said it is important to note that vector-borne diseases constitute a major portion of the burden of illness. It continues to represent a significant obstacle to social and economic development in many tropical countries. Vector-borne diseases account for around 17% of the estimated global burden of infectious diseases. Hence, the launching of (PAMCA) Ethiopia Chapter in Ethiopia is, therefore, a timely and important milestone to perform insightful research so as to control and eliminate vector-borne diseases.
As a president of Jimma University, he is delighted to confirm the institutional support and commitment to PAMCA Ethiopia Chapter apart from hosting the Chapter’s office in order to fulfill its mission Professor Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Chair, PAMCA Ethiopia Chapter on his behalf said the Chapter is a non-profit professional association with 52 registered members. The mission of (PAMCA) Ethiopia Chapter is to provide an Ethiopian–led platform for scientists, public health professionals, and affected communities as well as stakeholders.
It has strategic themes and aims, which include capacity building, research, disseminating information on vector-borne disseise. In addition, he said it brings researchers together to perform research on Mosquito born-diseases and disseminate the information so as to be able to control and eliminate malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
On the virtual conference, hosted by Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre International including African and Ethiopian scholars have participated.
