2 February 2012

Dundee students graduate - in Eritrea

picture shows from Left: Prof Margaret Smith, Dr Andom Ogbamariam, Mr Mike Naulty, Mr Menghestab Gaim

The University of Dundee has held a graduation ceremony for it's latest successful students in nursing and healthcare management - in Eritrea.

This year's Eritrea graduation saw 52 students being awarded their degrees. This brings the total number of Dundee alumni in Eritrea to 152, with all of them in positions where they are able to make sustainable change to healthcare.

'Eritrea faces many challenges but it has made significant improvements in healthcare and is now one of the few countries to be on target to meet the Millennium Development Goals,' said Professor Margaret Smith, Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Dundee. 'The Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and of Education have had a unique opportunity to be part of this transformation since 2004.

'It is wonderful to see the direct impact our graduates are having in Eritrea.'

An honorary degree was awarded to Dr Andom Ogbamarian, the Director General of Research and Human Development in Eritrea's Ministry of Health. Dr Andom has been instrumental in the transformation of health services in the country, developing national strategies for communicable diseases and now in the education and development of the health professional workforce.

In 2010, the first group of medical undergraduates completed their education in Eritrea. Dr Andom comes from a public health background but he also has significant experience of healthcare delivery across a range of settings.

The graduation celebrations in Asmara were attended by Professor Smith, and Mr Mike Naulty, Associate Dean in the School of Education at Dundee.

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Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
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