Event Organizers
Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM), Addis Ababa University, NORHED II Project and
International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)-Ethiopia Chapter
WWW.OHW-2025
The concept of One Health recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and the environment is interconnected. Emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change are just a few of the complex challenges that illustrate the need for a holistic approach to health. To alleviate this, collaboration across disciplines and sectors at various (local, national, and global) levels is needed. The integration of veterinary, medical, environmental, and social sciences allows for a comprehensive understanding of how health threats emerge and spread, and how they can be prevented or mitigated.
The main objective of the OHW conference is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge and experience sharing to address complex health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health with focus on One Health and Water. Specific Objectives within this framework, the conference are:
Researchers, academicians, practitioners, policymakers, students, NGOs and utilities will attend the conference. Over 200 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the conference, where scientists, engineers, water experts, policymakers, civil society, and government officials will interact with each other. The Conference will help set directions that the science community should take in order to address one health-related challenge and develop innovative solutions for the urban environment.
The format of the conference will be keynote speech, (panel discussions), oral and poster sessions.
By bringing together the stakeholders of one health such as researchers, academicians, practitioners, line ministries and NGOs working on one Health, the conference will create a collaborative environment where knowledge and experience sharing is enhanced and integrated strategies can be developed to tackle health issues that span humans, animals, and the environment. The conference is expected to create/increase the awareness of urban community on the importance of maintaining urban health through integrated efforts across human, animal and environmental health sectors.
Ethiopia
Germany
Online Registration will be opened on March 1, 2025. Please visit the conference web site (www.OHW-2025) and complete the online registration form.
Conference registration fees will cover costs of reception, coffee/tea breaks and lunch during the scientific sessions, conference materials, and conference dinner. Post-conference excursion fees will cover costs of transportation, accommodation, meals, and book of abstract.
Please be advised that the registration fee do not include travel insurance. Please ensure that you have your own insurance policy before traveling.
Considering the financial setup of the host country, any payments(conference registration, excursion) can be made only by Bank Transfer before the conference dates or at the registration desk during onsite registration. Bank transfer Address:
Please send the scanned copy of the bank transfer document to Mrs. Birhane Azage at the following address: birhane.azaghe@aau.edu.et
Cancellation/Refund Information: Please note that no cancelation/refund is possible after payment.
All correspondence concerning registration, abstract submission, application for sponsorship and payments for conference participation and excursion should be addressed to:
Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University
4-kilo Campus, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Digital Library Bld. 4th Floor, R.N.
Email-1: beteley.tekola@aau.edu.et
Email-2: acewm.ict@aau.edu.et
Email-3: feleke.zewge@aau.edu.et; fbeshah@yahoo.com
Day 01, September 15, 2025, Monday
Time
Event/Speaker/Presenter
Moderator
Venue
8:00 - 9:00
Registration
Organizing Committee
Lobby
9:00 - 9:05
Program Introduction
Dr. Paulos Getachew
Chairman of Scientific Committee
Dr. Bikila Warkineh
Executive Dean, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, AAU
Main Hall
9:05 - 9:10
Welcoming Address
Prof. Feleke Zewge
Chair, Conference Organizing Committee
9:10 - 9:20
Opening Remarks
Dr. Samuel Kifle
President, Addis Ababa University
9:20 - 9:30
Project Introduction
Dr. Fasil Ejigu
Associate Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)
9:30 - 9:45
Keynote Speech I
Dr. Fikiru Regassa
State Minister, FDRE Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock System Transformation Chair
9:45 - 10:00
Keynote Speech II
Dr. Dereje Duguma
State Minister, FDRE Ministry of Health
10:00 - 10:15
Keynote Speech III
Dr. Feyesa Regassa
Chair of National One Health Secretariat
10:15 - 10:25
Message from the
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa
Dr. Adey Feleke
10:25 - 10:50
Plenary Lecture I
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed
Integrated One Health Digital Platform for Outbreak Management
10:50 - 10:57
Short video
JIJE Labo Glass Private Limited Company
10:57 - 11:04
Ethio Lab Equipment Supply
11:04 - 11:10
Avant-Grade PLC
11:10 - 11:35
Health Break and Group Picture
Hotel/ ACEWM media
Lounge
Thematic Breakout Sessions
Environment and One Health
11:35 - 11:55
Etsub Birhanesilassie
Risk Assessment and Microbial Analysis of Tap Waters in Two Hospitals of Addis Ababa: A Potential Case for Waterborne Hospital-Acquired Infections
Dr. Haileleul Negussei
Hall A
11:55 - 12:15
Wondimagegne Mamo
Enhancing Public Health and Environmental Safety through the Stabilization and Solidification of Textile Wastewater Sludge: A One Health Approach
12:15 - 13:05
Wrap-up/Q&A
Water and One Health
Goraw Goshu
Integrated Modeling of E. coli Contamination in an Urbanizing: A One Health Approach from Akaki Watershed, Ethiopia
Dr. Girim Ayalneh
Hall B
Mihret/Alemseged Tamiru
Designing a Monitoring Plan for Microbial Water Quality, and Spatiotemporal Variation in
Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase Producing Bacteria and Their Relationship with Environmental
Factors and Land Use at the Akaki Catchment
Dr. Girum Ayalneh
12:15 - 12:35
Asmamaw Abera
Groundwater Fluoride Contamination and Probabilistic Human Health Risk Assessment in North Main Ethiopia Rift Valley
12:35 - 13:05
Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) and One Health
Shemse Sebre
Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Circulating Escherichia coli and Salmonella in Humans, Animals, and Environmental Sources in Ethiopia: A One Health Approach
Prof. Eyasu Makonnen
Hall C
Beshatu Ferede
Antibiotic-resistance Profile of Enterobacteriaceae at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface at the Lower Catchment Area of Akaki River, Ethiopia
13:05 - 14:05
Lunch Break
Hotel
Restaurant
14:05 - 15:00
Poster Presentations/Networking
Presenters
Poster Gallery
15:00 - 15:30
Health Break
Zoonotic Diseases
15:30 - 15:50
Makida Elias
Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in Dairy Farms of Shaggar City, Oromia, Ethiopia: A One Health Approach
Dr. Andualem Mekonnen
15:50 - 16:10
Guta Wakjira
Human and Companion Animal Interactions: Evaluating the Transmission Risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Among Humans, Dogs, Cats, and their Environment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
16:10 - 16:30
Ashenafi Gebregiorgis
Molecular Characterization of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis from Miscarriage Women and Aborted small Ruminants in the pastoral Afar Region, Ethiopia
16:30 - 17:00
Koffi Sossou
Removal of Heavy Metals from Water Using Nanomembrane Filter Doped with Magnetic Zeolite
Dr. Yedilfana Setarge
Alemneh Aschenaki
Assessment of Effluent Characteristics and Wastewater Management Practices in Selected Hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Asnake Enawgaw
Impacts of Long-term Climate Variability on streamflow and future Drought Patterns in Borkena Watershed, A wash Basin, Ethiopia
Chalachew Genet
Prevalence of Extended Spectrum β-lactamase and Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Raw Cow Bulk Milk from Dairy Cooperatives, Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia
Prof. Bekele Megerssa
Kajelcha Fikadu
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Escherichia coli Isolated from Hospital and Industrial Wastewater Systems
Tesfaye Fatalo
Physicochemical, Heavy metal and Microbiological Evaluation of Kality wastewater treatment plant: Treatment Efficiency and Implications for Antimicrobial Resistance within a One Health Nexus
Day 02, September 16, 2025, Tuesday
9:00 - 9:30
Plenary Lecture II
Addis Ababa University
Prof. Yimtubezinash W/Amanuel
9:30 - 10:00
Plenary Lecture III
Prof. Seid Tiku
Water as a Critical Conduit for Cross-species Health: Integrating Science, Policy, and Equity to Mitigate One Health Threats
10:00 - 10:30
Public Awareness in One Health
10:30 - 10:50
Jemberu Alemu
One Health Approach to Rift Valley Fever and West Nile Virus in Ethiopia: Seroprevalence, Co-Circulation, and Zoonotic Risk Awareness in Afar Pastoralist Communities
Prof. Bersissa Kumsa
10:50 - 11:30
Jirata Shiferaw
Health Risk Assessment and Environmental Impact of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Wastewater on Soil, Vegetables, and Livestock Forage in Peri-Urban Agriculture Areas of Central Ethiopia
Dr. Hayal Desta
10:50 - 11:10
Bennet Edem
Cyanide Remediation Using Alkali-Activated Ceramic Calcium/Hydroxyapatite Composites: Evaluation of Removal Efficiency
11:10 - 11:30
Ashrake Hussen
Treatment appraisal and fate of HMs in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket and trickling filter-based sewage treatment process: The case of a Kaliti Centralized Wastewater Treatment Plant, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
11:30 - 11:50
Boka Tesfaye
One Health-Based Analysis of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Plasmid-Mediated Resistance at the Human-Wildlife-Environmental Interface in Jimma, Ethiopia
Dr. Yitebarek Getachew
Ashetu Fikadu
Isolation and Phenotypic Characterization of Virulent Bacteriophages Against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli and Its Phage-Resistant Variant from Sewage Sources
11:30 - 12:30
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 15:00
Moderated Panel Discussion
Topic: Urbanization and One Health
Panelists:
(College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (CVMA), Addis Ababa University (AAU))
Prof. Kumelachew Yeshitila
(College of Technology and Built Environment (CoTBE), AAU)
Prof. Mirgissa Kaba
(College of Health Science, AAU)
(African Center of Excellence for Water Management, AAU)
15:30 - 16:00
Way Forward
Head, ACEWM
16:00 - 16:15
Closing Remarks
Prof. Werash Getaneh
VP for Research and Innovation, AAU
Prof. Feleke Zewge: ACEWM, AAU
Chair
Message from Conference Organizing Committee Chair
I warmly welcome you to the International conference on One Health and Water (OHW-2025): Safeguarding Human, Animals, and the Environment to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Addis Ababa is emerging as a prominent global hub for Africa, serving as the diplomatic capital and hosting major international organizations, international events, while also becoming a key economic and aviation center.
We are delighted to receive you all and provide the necessary space for networking, collaborative learning, strategizing, and charting a way forward for critical Health challenges. As we gather in this hub for global health challenge, we will remember that the health of one is inextricably linked to the health of all. This conference is a crucial platform for us to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and develop strategies for addressing the shared health threats that we face. I express sincere gratitude to all of you for sharing your reach experience with conference attendees.
I am particularly excited about the multidisciplinary design of the conference and the sub-thematic areas that will provide opportunities for conference delegates to share knowledge, and initiate new collaborations. We are looking forward to hosting scholars, policymakers and implementers, philanthropists, practitioners, researchers, funding organizations, students, and other key stakeholders.
The concept of One Health recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environment health and emphasizes the importance of addressing health challenges through a holistic approach that integrates multiple disciplines and sectors.Water plays a crucial role as a key connector between the three components of One Health. Water scarcity, water pollution and inadequate water management have profound impacts on the health of people and animals and the ecosystems where they co-exist. Climate change, population growth, increased per capita consumption and unsustainable production all aggravate this challenge
We are grateful to the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) for funding the One Health Education and Research project through the NORHED II Programme. This project helped establish a multi-disciplinary consortium from The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Addis Ababa University (AAU), and the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)to address the gaps in the training of One Health professionals at AAU (Ethiopia) and MUST (Malawi). The novel study program has developed at both the PhD and MSc levels at AAU and MUST, which will serve as a model for adaptation and scaling in other countries within the region.
I thank the International Association for Hydro Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)Africa Division and IAHREthiopia Chapter for co-organizing this conference. The Ethiopia Chapter is aiming to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote best practices, and support the development of solutions for water management issues in Ethiopia.
I do sincerely thank several committees who are working tirelessly to make this conference a memorable experience for all of us. I do thank all those who have agreed to be speakers and moderate sessions.
Welcome to Ethiopia, welcome to Addis Ababa, the Diplomatic Capital of Africa! I wish you all a rewarding experience! Chair, OHW-2025 Conference
College of Health Sciences, AAU
Scientific Committee
Department of Cellular, Microbial and Molecular Biology, AAU
College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, AAU
Center for Food Science, AAU
Center for Environmental Science, AAU
School of Chemical & Bio Engineering, AAU
Logistics Committee
Center for Material Science and Engineering, AAU
School of Earth Sciences, AAU
Ethiopian Institute of Architecture
Fund Raising Committee
Fund raising Committee
School of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, AAU
Florida International University
UiT, the Arctic University of Norway
IHE Delft, Institute for Water Education
By bringing together the stakeholders of one health such as researchers, academicians, practitioners, line ministries and NGOs working on one Health, the conference will create a collaborative environment where knowledge and experience sharing is enhanced and integrated strategies can be developed to tackle health issues that span humans, animals, and the environment.
The conference is expected to create/increase the awareness of urban community on the importance of maintaining urban health through integrated efforts across human, animal and environmental health sectors.
Capital Hotel and Spa, the premier 5-star hotel nestled in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s vibrant capital. Conveniently situated in the Mazoria Area, just 4.5 km from Bole International Airport, indigenous establishment has been a cornerstone of Ethiopian hospitality since June 2013. Over the years, they served as a beacon of luxury and comfort, catering to both local and international guests seeking an unforgettable stay in Addis Ababa. Capital Hotel & Spa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Street Address: ET 1878, 22 Haile Gebre Silase St,