Dr. Godal and AHRI
Dr. Tore Godal travelled to Ethiopia for the first time in 1970 to be the director at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) in Addis Ababa. AHRI, a biomedical research institute, was founded in 1970 through the initiative of the Norwegian and Swedish Save the Children, and the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. The Institute got its name from the Norwegian physician, Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen who first described the leprosy bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae. Dr. Godal worked as a director from 1970-1973 where he contributed to significant research on the leprosy bacillus.
In 2000 Dr. Godal dedicated USD 15,000 to AHRI, funds which he received from the Thailand Prince Matridul Award for his effort in building research capacity in developing countries. As a consequence AHRI founded the Tore Godal Prize Trust, which since 2002 annually supports three young researchers doing work on infectious diseases.
AHRI anniversary and MDG cooperation
This week, Dr. Godal visited Ethiopia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of AHRI, the place where he started his international career. He has also been meeting with the Ethiopian Health Ministry, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union on efforts to cooperate on obtaining Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 (child mortality) and 5 (maternal health). Ethiopia, Norway, the USA and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation together supports a campaign to promote these goals.
Norway and Ethiopia is cooperating on obtaining MDGs 4, 5, and 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) and is working together in preparation for the Millennium Development Goals summit to be hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September this year. “Ethiopia is a leader in the area of improving maternal health and it is important that others benefit from their experience,” says Dr. Godal who commends the global leadership of Health Minister Tewodros Adhanom.
Dr. Godal, who is also special advisor to Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, had a productive meeting with AU Social Affairs Commissioner Bience Gawanos. They agreed on the importance for global initiatives like the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) where Norway is involved and regional organisations like the AU.