Dr. Dechassa Tegegne officially began his tenure at WOAH on March 31, 2025, taking on the position of Programme Officer for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) within the Sub-Regional Representation for Southern Africa, in replacement of Dr Mohamed Sirdar, who left in September 2024. He is located at the WOAH Sub-Regional Representation in Gaborone, Botswana.
In this capacity, the AMR Programme Officer will oversee the execution of the WOAH Strategy pertaining to AMR and the responsible use of antimicrobials at both sub-regional and national levels.
He will be integrated into a continental and international network of WOAH personnel committed to addressing this vital issue, collaborating closely with colleagues from Regional and Sub-Regional Representations, as well as with WOAH Headquarters. Additionally, he will play a pivotal role in fostering the thorough implementation of the WOAH mandate concerning animal health, veterinary public health, and welfare within the Southern Africa sub-region. This effort will specifically focus on enhancing awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance and advocating for effective antimicrobial stewardship within the veterinary profession while also providing support to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and WOAH Member Countries (Members) in general.
Dechassa, a citizen of Ethiopia, earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Szent István University, now known as Budapest University of Veterinary Medicine, in Budapest, Hungary, in 2014. He subsequently advanced his education by obtaining a Master of Science in Animal Biotechnology from Jimma University in Ethiopia in 2020.
Prior to his appointment with WOAH, Dr. Tegegne served as a researcher and lecturer at Jimma University in Ethiopia, holding the position of Assistant Professor in Animal Biotechnology. He has been instrumental in numerous One Health initiatives across Eastern and Central Africa, with a focus on workforce development aimed at cultivating the essential skills necessary for addressing AMR and managing zoonotic infectious diseases. His research primarily investigated emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly those related to AMR and zoonotic threats that arise at the interface of humans, domestic animals, wildlife, and their shared environments.
Dr. Tegegne can be reached at [email protected]
