Behailu Merdekios

I am an Associate Professor of Global Health at Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, and served as Project Coordinator for AMU-IUC (VLIR-UOS Belgium) and RUNRES (Zurich University/Swiss Government). I also founded Ethiopia’s first Collaborative Research & Training Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CRTC-NTDs), recognized nationally for its role in advancing evidence-based interventions.

With a PhD in Medical Sciences (University of Antwerp), an MSc in Global Health (Trinity College Dublin), and a BSc in Public Health from Ethiopia, I bring over two decades of experience in public health research, strategic project management, and capacity building. My core research interests lie in neglected tropical diseases, particularly Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), and the intersection of illness, indigenous knowledge, and psychosocial wellbeing. I am deeply committed to culturally grounded approaches that integrate community voices into health systems strengthening.

Currently, I am leading the design of community-based interventions for pediatric CL in a known CL focus, Southern Ethiopia, while developing log frames and theories of change for donor proposals. My recent publications explore CL prevalence, adult mortality trends, and innovative treatment modalities such as cryotherapy and miltefosine. I collaborate across institutions to scale sustainable health interventions and embed circular economy principles into public health practice.

My work aligns closely with CHaI’s themes by exploring how cultural beliefs, stigma, and traditional healing practices shape health outcomes. I’m especially passionate about bridging biomedical and indigenous narratives to foster inclusive, context-sensitive care.

Through CHaI, I hope to exchange ideas on participatory research methods, transdisciplinary frameworks, and culturally responsive evaluation tools. I look forward to learning from diverse perspectives and contributing insights from Ethiopia’s evolving public health landscape.

Email: merdekib@tcd.ie

Affiliation: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia