Wondu Alemayehu

Wondu Alemayehu, MD, MPH was trained as a general medical practitioner, specialized in Ophthalmology (at Halie Silassie I University and Addis Ababa University), then received MPH and a certificate in Preventive/Community Ophthalmology (at Johns Hopkins University, USA). Wondu Served as faculty member, Assistant and then Associate Prof., in the Department of Ophthalmology, of the Medical Faculty of AAU for over 15 years and participated in teaching, service delivery and research. He conducted research in eye health/trachoma and published, as an author and/or co-author, in reputed peer reviewed medical journals. Subsequently, Wondu worked as a Country Director of Project ORBIS International, Inc.–Ethiopia. In this capacity, he was instrumental in playing a pivotal leadership role in the development of viable eye health program in Ethiopia. This included advocacy for eye health, strengthening of tertiary academic eye health institutions and as part of rural eye health program, the implementation of the complete SAFE (Surgery, Antibiotics, Face washing and Environmental improvement) strategy for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Other critical components of the country program were building the first viable Eye Bank in sub-Saharan Africa and building medical equipment management capacity as well as research in eye health.

Currently, Wondu is working as a Global Trachoma Technical Adviser to The Fred Hollows Foundation and General Manager and Consultant Ophthalmologist, at Berhan Public Health & Eye Care Consultancy Plc.

During his professional career, Wondu received various awards and certificates including International Agency for Prevention of Blindness’s (IAPB) 2004 regional achievement award; Certificates of appreciation by the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia (OSE) and Ethiopian Optometry Association (EOA). Other certificates of achievement include: The ICTC MacCallan Medal for outstanding achievement in trachoma implementation, 25 September 2014; The L’OCCITANE Foundation’s Sight Award for research, 2016; the “Bego Sew” nominee award in the field of Science, September 03, 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; The Diploma of Laureate by the Abyssinia Award on October 29, 2017. Award in recognition of the development of the Eye Bank of Ethiopia October 04, 2018. Certificate of appreciation in recognition of outstanding scientific contribution to21st ESO 2024.

Wondu is a member of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness and National Trachoma Task Force, Ethiopian Medical Association and American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is serving as Chair of the Technical Working Group for the 2nd National Eye Health Survey of Ethiopia; the Post-operative trachomatous trichiasis (PTT) management guideline development team, and The Policy -Advocacy Committee of the OSE of which he was the 1st Secretary. Furthermore, Wondu works as Ethiopia Principal and Co- PI of ongoing research studies in trachoma.

Most recent academic activities include presentations:

1. 21^st Emirates Society of Ophthalmology Conference (ESO) (2-4 Feb. 2024) entitled “Restoring sight amongst disadvantaged people”,
2. Ethiopian Corneal Surgeons Advisory Council meeting (Feb 24, 2024) - “Trachomatous Corneal Opacity (TCO) reversing the “irreversible””
3. virtual CME organized by the Ethiopian Medical Association as its 60^th pre- medical conference annual activity (March 04, 2024)- “Towards elimination of Trachoma in Ethiopia, turning the last stone”
4. virtual panel discussion on the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration event (March 08, 2024) organized by The Fred Hollows Foundation - “The Negative Impact of Trachoma on Women/Mothers: Recommendations and Solutions”