Background:
The Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing is one of academic unit within the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Injibara University. It is a specialization of the nursing profession that focuses on pediatrics and the medical care of children, from infancy to the teenage. It focuses preventive, curative and rehavilative care for that population below 18 years old (for infants, children, and adolescents). In past years, before expanding of nursing profession the care was given by the comprehensive nurses. Now days, in order to deliver quality of care for patients, nursing professions split in different specialized areas; such as to pediatric nursing, Emergency and critical care nursing, surgical nursing etc.
The Ethiopian government implement different strategies in order to improve the health of the children reduce the mortality rate of the child. However, its plan was not fully achieved as the government planned. One of the contributing factors for this might be scarcity of trained pediatric nursing professionals.
In line to the above reason, Injibara University declared Pediatrics and child health program in 2014 E.C. The department initially started with 2 staffs and 14 students. Now a time it has 7 lectures and 1 assistant professor active staffs. As of April 10/ 2025, It has 11 4th year, 16 3rd year, 32 (2nd year, second semester) and 33 (2nd year, second semester) students.
Mission & Vision
Mission:
- To produce pediatric nurses who are knowledgeable, skilled, and ethically competent to contribute to the health of the nation, to conduct and disseminate problem-solving research and development, and to provide community services that improve the health of the community.
Vision:
To be the leading educational and research department among universities offering pediatric nursing programs in Ethiopia by 2030.
Academic Programs
A.Bachelor of Science in Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing (BSc)
- A four-year undergraduate program integrating classroom instruction, simulation labs, and clinical rotations.
Key focus areas:
- Neonatal and pediatric nursing
- Child nutrition and growth monitoring
- Management of childhood illnesses (IMNCI)
- Immunization and preventive healthcare
- Pediatric emergency and critical care
- Research & Community service
Research Focus Areas:
- Neonatal survival strategies
- Childhood immunization coverage
- Malnutrition and stunting prevention
- Infectious disease control (eg, Childhood TB, pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria) etc
Clinical Training & Partnerships
- Trainings : Students gain hands-on experience at:
- Injibara General Hospital
- Chagni primary hosipital
- Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital (Bahir Dar)
- Health Centers at and around Injibara town( For IMNCI and Community-based training)
Partnerships: As of April 2025, the department has no special partnerships with any organizations. However, it aspires to be a partner with:
- Ministry of Health (Ethiopia)
- Amhara Regional Health Bureau (Bahir Dar)
- Awi Zone Health Department (Injibara)
- WHO, UNICEF, and other interested NGOs (e.g., Save the Children)
- Local & International Universities
Future Directions
- Expansion of postgraduate training (Master’s in Pediatric Nursing).
- Strengthening research collaborations with national and global organizations
Leadership & Contact Information
- Head of Department: Tamene Fetene Terefe
- Email: Tamene.Fetene@inu.edu.et or tamenefet732@gmail.com
- Phone: +251918554420
- Location: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Ethiopia, office no: 010.
