Who is the new President of Sidama Region, Dr. Mesay Hailu?

Dr. Mesay Hailu has been appointed as the new President of the Sidama Region, replacing Ato Desta Ledamo. Previously, Dr. Mesay served as the head of the Sidama Zone Health Department and Vice President of Hawassa University. He holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Bergen, Norway, and has served as Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). Furthermore, he was a member of the technical advisory council for the Africa CDC and served on the board of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and the Anti-Doping Authority.

Dr. Mesay also participated in national health policy development as an executive committee member for the Ministry of Health. His career spans various leadership roles in both academia and federal institutions. His appointment is attributed to his proven academic credentials, professional ethics, and extensive leadership experience at multiple levels of government and public service.