Akeza Awealom Asgedom is an Associate Professor of Environmental Public Health and Occupational Health & Safety at Mekelle University, Ethiopia, with a PhD from the University of Bergen, Norway. He is a dedicated public health professional specializing in environmental and occupational health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and One Health. His career is marked by extensive teaching, research, leadership, and consultancy, with a strong focus on health system resilience and post-conflict health assessments in the Tigray region.
Education and Specialization:
- PhD in Environmental and Occupational Health:Â University of Bergen, Norway (2019).
- Master’s in Environmental Health Sciences:Â Jimma University, Ethiopia (2013).
- Bachelor’s in Environmental Health:Â Hawassa University, Ethiopia (2009).
Academic and Leadership Positions:
- Associate Professor & Faculty Member:Â Mekelle University (2019-present). Previously held faculty positions at Addis Ababa University and Wollo University.
- Head, School of Public Health:Â Mekelle University (2020-2023), where he also chaired the PhD Council.
- He serves on various departmental committees, including Recruitment and Selection and the Institutional Review Board.
Research, Grants, and Consultancy:
Dr. Akeza has secured and led numerous high-impact research projects and consultancies, often in post-war settings:
- Principal Investigator (PI):Â Leading studies on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in public hospitals in post-war Tigray (funded at $40,000), the performance of primary health care services ($100,000), and WASH conditions in cholera hotspots.
- Core Team Member:Â Part of the SAFEWORKERS project, a multi-country program funded by NORAD (20 million NOK) to improve working conditions.
- Consultancy Lead:Â He has led major assessments for organizations like FHI360, Save the Children, Imagine 1 Day, and the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) on WASH, primary healthcare, and the health impacts of the war.
- His PhD research focused on wood dust exposure and respiratory health among factory workers in Ethiopia.
Honors and Awards:
He has received numerous travel grants for international conferences and was awarded a prestigious PhD scholarship from the Royal Norwegian Government. He won second prize for the Best Poster of the Year at the University of Bergen (2019).
Professional Affiliations and Advisory Roles:
He is a founding and life member of the Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association (EEHPA) and the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA), and a member of the Canadian Association for Global Health (CAGH). He has served on national technical working groups and scientific advisory committees for the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health on IPC, urban sanitation, and climate change.
Publications and Editorial Work:
He has an extensive and rapidly growing publication record in high-impact international journals, including The Lancet and Nature Medicine, focusing on the health impacts of the Tigray war, WASH, and occupational health. He serves on the editorial boards of BMC Public Health and Scientific Reports.
Voluntary Service:
He is the founder and chairperson of the “Unity for Development of Raya” (UDR) organization and a founding member of “LiSA Kitchen” (Lifesaving Nutritional Services), demonstrating a strong commitment to community development. He is also a member of Rotary International and the Canadian Red Cross.