Haramaya University Showcases Hararghe HDSS Innovations at INSPIRE 2.0 Global Summit in Kenya
Haramaya University successfully participated in the INSPIRE 2.0 Annual Meeting, held from February 22–28, 2026. The gathering brought together a global cohort of researchers, data scientists, AI developers, and policy analysts to collaborate on enhancing health data quality and evidence-driven decision-making.
Representing the University, Dr. Merga Dheresa presented critical longitudinal data from the Hararghe Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). His presentation highlighted the center’s rigorous tracking of community health trends, disease prevalence, and mortality rates. Dr. Merga demonstrated how these findings have directly informed and shaped health policies at both national and continental levels, reinforcing the center’s status as a premier African “Center of Excellence.”
A significant focus of the University’s presentation was the “Tele_VA” initiative, a collaborative project with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). Dr. Merga shared promising results regarding the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using Tele-Verbal Autopsy (Tele_VA) to streamline mortality data collection.
The Hararghe HDSS continues to lead in integrating technology and health science, ensuring policymakers have access to deep, evidence-based insights to improve public health outcomes.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations
Tags: Digital Health Surveillance, Ethiopia Health Systems, Global Health Innovation, Haramaya University, Hararghe HDSS, HDSS Innovations, Innovation Showcase, INSPIRE 2.0 Summit, Kenya Summit 2026, public health research
