ACHIEVEMENTS

Past achievement and current projects

Since the creation of our organization, its members have dedicated their time and efforts to accomplish several specific projects. Some of these accomplishments and on-going projects are as follows:

Continuing Education programs: The Association has sponsored and conducted the following CE programs.

HIV/AIDS crisis in drug therapy among Ethiopians: Speaker: Yonas Zegeye, MD, Neurosurgery, Howard University Hospital.

The Emerging Role of Privatization of Pharmaceutical Distribution in Primary Health Care Setting: The World Bank Strategy and Assistance in Primary Care Delivery Services in Ethiopia: Speaker: Ahmed Moen, DrPH, Associate Professor and Director of Health Sciences, Howard University.

Clinically Significant Drug Interactions: Focus on Psychotropics: Speaker: Bisrat Hailemeskel, M.S., Pharm.D. Assistant Professor, Howard University.

HIV: Pediatric Treatment Update and Current Issues in Ethiopia: Speaker: Yeruk (Lily) Ager Mulugeta, Pharm.D, Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Clinically significant herb-drug interactions: Speaker: Fredric A. Lombardo, Pharm.D., M.S. Assistant Professor, Howard University.

Other Accomplishments and On-Going Projects:

Conducted the organization’s first social annual gathering during 1999 Ethiopian Christmas holiday to create a means for members and their families to know each other. The meeting was successful and attended by many.

A letter of acknowledgment and a plaque was sent to Ethiopia on behalf of the EPANA’s members to its sister association, Ethiopian Pharmacists Association, when they celebrated their 25^th Annual Conference in Addis Ababa. The letter was read and the plaque was presented during the opening ceremony of this historic meeting.

Upon the request of the Ethiopian Pharmacists Association, we are currently working on a means to provide continuing education workshops for practicing pharmacists in Ethiopia.

Discussion to establish a scholarship fund for pharmacy students who are attending the School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, is underway.

A project that deals with providing community services to Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area through health fairs, health education, etc. in churches and other community gathering areas is underway.

We are in the process of obtaining a 501 (c)(3) IRS tax exempt status and developing the organization’s web site which will feature updates and EPANA’s progress.