UNFPA China Representative Conducts Site Visit to Debre Berhan University Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus

On August 3, 2026, a delegation from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) China and the China South-South Cooperation Programme conducted an official site visit to Debre Berhan University Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus to strengthen collaboration and explore opportunities for advancing maternal and neonatal health initiatives.

Opening the program, Dr. Tewodros Kifleyohanes, Chief Executive Director of Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, welcomed the delegation and emphasized the significance of the visit. He noted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes, particularly in rural communities, while promoting sustainable, long-term healthcare solutions.

In his welcoming speech, Dr. Sisay Mulat, Vice President for Research, Technology Transfer, and Community Engagement at Debre Berhan University, highlighted the University's commitment to multidisciplinary research, capacity building, technology transfer, and community engagement. He underscored the importance of international partnerships in generating innovative and scalable solutions that address community needs and contribute to sustainable development.

Mr. Peng Jiong, Assistant Representative of UNFPA China, presented the purpose and objectives of the site visit. He explained that since 1979, UNFPA and China have collaborated through nine country programmes focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and population and development. He further noted that, since 2015, these initiatives have been supported by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF), enabling the implementation of projects in developing countries while fostering mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

Mr. Peng also stated that under the current UNFPA China Country Program (2026–2030), UNFPA China, in collaboration with other country offices, plans to mobilize support from the GDF to implement projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Mrs. Aklile Semu, Director of Community Engagement at AWHSC, presented an overview of the Health Science Campus, highlighting its academic programmes, research activities, and national and international collaboration opportunities.

Mrs. Aklile Semu emphasized that the Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus and Hakim Gizaw Hospital are closely integrated in supporting the teaching and learning process. She also noted that the hospital is fully digitalized, enhancing both clinical services and medical education.

The Principal Investigator of the project, Mrs. Tesfanesh Lemma, provided a progress update on the Artificial Intelligence Point-of-Care Ultrasound (AI-POCUS) Project, a collaborative initiative between Debre Berhan University and Tsinghua University. She outlined the project's achievements and its potential to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare services through innovative digital health technologies.

The visit concluded with productive discussions on strategic areas of future collaboration. The delegation also toured Debre Berhan University's research facilities and visited the University's research outputs which are done at the Ankober Botanical Garden, gaining insight into the institution's ongoing research, innovation, and community engagement initiatives.