AHRI gjennom 36 år

Abstract

AHRI through 36 years

“AHRI through 36 years” is a chronologically told history of Armauer Hansen’s Research Insitute’s existence. Armauer Hansen’s Research Institute (AHRI) was established in 1969 in Addis Ababa after an initiative from Norwegian and Swedish doctors. The initiative was channeled through the Norwegian and Swedish branches of the ‘Save the Children’ organization. Gerhard Armauer Hansen was the first doctor to discover the mycobacterium Leprae. Immunological aspects of the leprosy disease were to be the focal point for the research at AHRI. Placing the institute in a high-endemic area ensured good access to leprosy patients and aided the education of African scientists and medical personnel.

Neighboring the institute is the All Africa Leprosy and Rehabilitation Training Centre (ALERT), further strengthening the institute’s access to leprosy patients. Throughout the institute’s 36 years of existence, the degree of Ethiopian employees has been steadily increasing; today’s workforce mainly consists of Ethiopian employees. AHRI and ALERT are currently organized under The Ethiopian Department of Health.

The research carried out at AHRI has developed greatly over the years, and now also includes tuberculosis, Leischmaniasis, HIV, HPV, malaria and meningitis in addition to leprosy. Over the years, AHRI has received a great deal of international recognition, and is considered to be a leading research institution within its area.