The inauguration workshop of LAPNARD-ETHIOPIA was
successfully completed yesterday. Twenty four
participants (members) working in the government and
non-government organizations in a wide range of fields
that is development, research and higher learning
institution have been participated in the workshop.
During the two days workshop, different concept papers
on mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, gender and HIV/AIDS, case
study on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the rural areas and
guidelines for successful networking have been
presented. This paper created for active and hot
discussion among the participants. The video killio
the cry was also presented and participants reflected
on it as a nice means of creating awareness and
building the competencies of rural development
professionals for seeing is believing.
Group discussions conducted among homogenous groups
on the existing practices, level of competencies, gaps
and potentials (that we have in the area of
mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in to our institutions and
daily activities) and suggestions for the role of the
network fill to the gap. In the discussion it was
pointed out that the existence of resources and
experiences from the NGO side and HAPCO (HIV/AIDS
Prevention and control office, federal level) on the
one side and the existence of manpower at grass root
level for scaling up these activities but with limited
resources and experience on the other side. And hence
it was suggested that this network could fill this
gap. Gaps on limited competencies of participants was
also suggested and it was recommended on this issue
that refresher courses are available in the Larenstien
University and could be arranged on discussion with
the LAPNARD general. Finally participants have
discussed on the draft policy paper and accepted as a
policy paper with some modification to the Ethiopian
context. The constitution paper was also discussed and
accepted after corrections to the requirement of the
ministry of justice. Participants finally declared
that they joined the network on their own initiatives
to throw/put a stone to HIV/AIDS. The workshop
finalized with the nomination of executive committee.
In the workshop distinguished guests from different
organizations namely Deputy Director General of
Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (who
addressed the workshop), representative from The
Netherlands Embassy, representative from HAPCO and
representative Ministry of agriculture and rural
development have attended the opening session and
expressed their willing to stand on our side in the
fight against the pandemic in every aspect. That was
great full for the success of our network. To me this
is a one step forward.
The inauguration workshop also got a media coverage in
four languages. As part of the activity of LAPNARD
there was an interesting event that the Ethiopian
Agricutural research Organization called a meeting to
its staff in the HQ and its vicinity to brief about
HIV/AIDS the next day. This was also on media next to
ours, interesting. As a chairman of the
LAPNARD-ETHIOPIA, on behalf of my self and members of
the LAPNARD Ethiopia, I would like to thank the Dutch
Ministry of Foreign Affair for sponsoring the
workshop, Larenstein and Wageningen Staff in general
and Robert Baars & Loes in particular for their
invaluable assistance and encouragement to execute
this network and represented organizations in our
workshop. And I hope your assistant will continue in
every aspect.
Therefore, all LAPNARD members in east Africa,
Larenstien and Wageningen staff and other
collaborators, I would like to congratulate you for
this successful completion of the LAPNARD-ETHIOPA.
More news will be on the website.
Yours,
Gebrehiwot Hailemariam