Ethiopian Journal of Health Ethiopian Journal of Health SciencesSciences

Abraham Haileamlak, MDAbraham Haileamlak, MDAssociate professor of PediatricsAssociate professor of Pediatrics

Editor-In-Chief of Ethiopian Journal of Editor-In-Chief of Ethiopian Journal of Health SciencesHealth Sciences

Vice President for Local Training Facilities Vice President for Local Training Facilities and Health Services, Jimma University,and Health Services, Jimma University,

EthiopiaEthiopiaMay, 2009May, 2009

EthiopiaEthiopia

Ethiopia…Ethiopia…

One of the oldest state in the One of the oldest state in the worldworld

Cradle of Cradle of humankind humankind ?????? Has own alphabetHas own alphabet

G G K K N N S ...S ...

……own different calendarown different calendar

Lucy/Dinknesh

Ethiopia …Ethiopia …

Rich historyRich history

22ndnd populous in Africa (80,000,000) populous in Africa (80,000,000) Economically poorEconomically poor

• Recurrent draughtRecurrent draught• War War • PovertyPoverty

Ethiopia …Ethiopia …

But now changingBut now changing• Economic development is getting fastEconomic development is getting fast• Infrastructure …Infrastructure …• Health service Health service • EducationEducation

- Primary education for allPrimary education for all- More than 200 collegesMore than 200 colleges- 32 universities – 11 medical schools32 universities – 11 medical schools

Location of Hosting University

King Abajifar Palace

Location …

A NATIONAL PIONEER IN COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION OF HIGHER LEARNING

Background of JU

Jimma University: Established in December 1999 (JCA, 1952 & JIHS, 1983)

JU has one college and 8 faculties

Has over 32,000 students and over 1000 teaching staff

Known for its innovative teaching approach, Community Based Education (CBE)

• Existed since 1983

• Has 26 departments

• Trains in BSc, MD, DMD, MSc, MPH and Specialty

Medical and Public Health Faculty

• Serves as a training and research center.

• The only referral Hospital in the south-west• Has 450 bed capacity• Additional Modern Hospital with 530 bed capacity under construction

Teaching hospital

Medical …

THE PHILOSOPHY OF JIMMA UNIVERSITY - COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION (CBE)

CBE is a means of achieving educational relevance to community needs. Uses the community extensively as a learning environment

Students but also teachers, members of the community, and representatives of other sectors are actively engaged throughout the educational experience.

Benefits both the students and the community.

Three Core strategies;1.Community Based

Training Programme (CBTP)

2. Team Training Program (TTP) →→DTTP (Being Piloted)

3. Student Research Program (SRP)

Cbe…

Research and Publications AT JUResearch and Publications AT JU Research undertaking is among the Research undertaking is among the

mandates of JUmandates of JU Coordinated by Research and Publication Coordinated by Research and Publication

OfficeOffice Research priority has been given to problem Research priority has been given to problem

solving and community-based and appliedsolving and community-based and applied Currently, over 50 different research projects Currently, over 50 different research projects

are underway by the medical/health science are underway by the medical/health science staff staff

The main areas of research are malnutrition, The main areas of research are malnutrition, child health, HIV/Aids, Malaria, Chronic child health, HIV/Aids, Malaria, Chronic Diseases and Tuberculosis Diseases and Tuberculosis

Research and …Research and …Health Science Research InstituteHealth Science Research Institute Established in 2006 with the aim Established in 2006 with the aim

of;of; Enhance research culture in JUEnhance research culture in JU

Establish field research centerEstablish field research center Integrate and make a concerted effort Integrate and make a concerted effort

on health sciences research on health sciences research undertakings to address national undertakings to address national priority problemspriority problems

Contribute to JU’s attempt to be Contribute to JU’s attempt to be center of excellence in health center of excellence in health sciencessciences

Disseminate research findings Disseminate research findings through different meansthrough different means

Ethiopian Journal of Health Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences (EJHS)Sciences (EJHS)

A peer reviewed journal of JU appearing A peer reviewed journal of JU appearing since 1991since 1991

Used to appear twice a year until July Used to appear twice a year until July 20072007

Since then it is appearing trice a yearSince then it is appearing trice a year Publish editorial, original articles, brief Publish editorial, original articles, brief

communications and case reports, communications and case reports, Has no website yet, Not indexedHas no website yet, Not indexed

EJHS …EJHS …

MissionMission in order to Contribute for the professional in order to Contribute for the professional

development and/or education of the development and/or education of the manuscript contributors and readers by manuscript contributors and readers by publishing peer-reviewed articles.publishing peer-reviewed articles.

Contribute for dissemination and Contribute for dissemination and technology transfer of research outputs. technology transfer of research outputs.

EJHS …EJHS …Mission …Mission … Facilitate research undertakings on in Facilitate research undertakings on in

Ethiopia in general and southwest Ethiopia Ethiopia in general and southwest Ethiopia in particular.in particular.

Advance the professional development of Advance the professional development of authors, reviewers and members of the authors, reviewers and members of the editorial board. editorial board.

EJHS …EJHS …

StaffingStaffing Two fulltime editorial staff [secretary and Two fulltime editorial staff [secretary and

editorial manager editorial manager ((on the pipelineon the pipeline)])] Seven (including EIC) volunteer editorial Seven (including EIC) volunteer editorial

board members board members Six editorial consultantsSix editorial consultants More than 50 volunteer reviewersMore than 50 volunteer reviewers

EJHS …EJHS … Editorial processEditorial process

Submission to the secretarySubmission to the secretary After registration and removal of identifiers by After registration and removal of identifiers by

the secretary the secretary pre-review by the Editor-in-Chief (1-2 days)pre-review by the Editor-in-Chief (1-2 days) To two reviewers for comment is in 4 weeks To two reviewers for comment is in 4 weeks

time, but usually longertime, but usually longer

EJHS …EJHS …

Editorial process …Editorial process … Accepted manuscripts, to author/s for Accepted manuscripts, to author/s for

accommodation (in 2weeks time)accommodation (in 2weeks time) Then to reviewers Then to reviewers Authors Authors Accepted manuscripts will then undergo detail Accepted manuscripts will then undergo detail

review by editorial board.review by editorial board. The whole process will take 3-4 months on The whole process will take 3-4 months on

averageaverage

EJHS …EJHS …

DistributionDistribution Over 200 institutions and individuals locally Over 200 institutions and individuals locally

for freefor free Distributed to all libraries in JU and all public Distributed to all libraries in JU and all public

medical schools in Ethiopiamedical schools in Ethiopia Few international customersFew international customers

Financing Financing Fully funded by JUFully funded by JU Selling not yet startedSelling not yet started

EJHS …EJHS …

ManuscriptsManuscripts 35-40 manuscripts are submitted yearly35-40 manuscripts are submitted yearly 20-25 articles published per year20-25 articles published per year Rejection rate is about 15%Rejection rate is about 15%

EJHS…EJHS…

Medical libraryMedical library Librarians support researchers, authors and Librarians support researchers, authors and

reviewers in searching database when they reviewers in searching database when they are asked for.are asked for.

Are not involved in trainingAre not involved in training

EJHS…EJHS…

Improvements Improvements JU is in transformation and so the EJHSJU is in transformation and so the EJHS Research undertaking is becoming easierResearch undertaking is becoming easier More manuscripts are comingMore manuscripts are coming Group review of manuscripts by editorial Group review of manuscripts by editorial

board and experts startedboard and experts started Electronic submission startedElectronic submission started

EJHS …EJHS …

Desirable Interaction with our International Desirable Interaction with our International partner are,partner are, Capacity buildingCapacity building

• Advise in establishing sound publication systemAdvise in establishing sound publication system• Share good practicesShare good practices• Expertise support in training of;Expertise support in training of;

editors, editors, reviewers,reviewers, authors and authors and researchersresearchers

EJHS …EJHS … DifficultiesDifficulties

ReviewersReviewers• ShortageShortage• Poor skillPoor skill• Uncooperative Uncooperative

Editorial board membersEditorial board members• StretchedStretched• Limited Knowhow Limited Knowhow

Technology supportedTechnology supported• No websiteNo website

AuthorsAuthors• Poor writing skillPoor writing skill• Do not follow the journal formatDo not follow the journal format

THANK YOU!