Objective: To evaluate the impact of advocacy efforts aimed at integrating Parkinson’s Disease (PD) into the Ethiopian primary healthcare guidelines.

Background: The Parkinson’s Patients Support Organization Ethiopia (PPSO-E) has led policy advocacy efforts to integrate Parkinson’s Disease into the Ethiopian Primary Healthcare Guidelines. This initiative is based on 14 years of experience addressing gaps in Ethiopia’s healthcare system, with a specific focus on minimizing the misdiagnosis rate of PD.

Method: PPSOE prepared a policy brief paper was prepared and disseminated to relevant stakeholders. Organized different events like policy lobbying and panel discussion with representatives from key policy-making bodies including the Ministry of Health (MOH), Association of Ethiopian Neurologists (AEN), Regional Health Bureau representatives, and other stakeholders.

Qualitative data was collected through observations and interviews with primary healthcare workers.

Results: The MOH and the AEN initiated efforts to established task forces to revise the national primary health care guideline in which the Parkinson Disease will be incorporated.

This enabled strong engagement and technical and financial contribution of all relevant stakeholders with shared commitment of integrating Parkinson’s Disease into the primary healthcare system.

Conclusion: Strong and collaborative advocacy efforts of PPSOE demonstrated meaningful change in mobilizing partnerships and influencing policy decision. This underscores the importance of ongoing advocacy and collaboration in integrating Parkinson’s Disease into the Ethiopian primary healthcare guidelines to address gaps and ensure sustainability.

« Back to 2025 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluating-the-impact-of-advocacy-efforts-in-integrating-parkinsons-disease-into-the-ethiopian-primary-healthcare-system-lessons-from-parkinsons-patients-support-organization-ethiop/