CIS Hosts NEST360 Global Leadership Visit to Strengthen SLL360 Implementation and Sustainability in Ethiopia
The Center for Implementation Sciences in Health (CIS), Aklilu Lemma Institute of Health Research, Addis Ababa University, hosted the NEST360 Global Annual Leadership Visit for the Special Lactation Support 360 (SLL360) Program on April 16–17, 2026.
The two-day visit brought together the NEST360 global team and Ethiopian university partners to review implementation progress, identify operational challenges, and strengthen strategies for the sustainability and scale-up of interventions aimed at improving care for small and sick newborns in Ethiopia.
The visit began with field visits to Adama and Olenchiti hospitals, where the delegation observed ongoing SLL360 implementation activities and engaged with healthcare providers involved in delivering care to small and sick newborns. These visits provided an opportunity to reflect on achievements, identify gaps, and better understand the practical realities of implementing and sustaining improvements in newborn care at health facility level.
Building on the observations and discussions from the field visits, the second day focused on strategic planning and alignment. CIS, together with the NEST360 global team and Ethiopian university partners, reviewed key implementation priorities and worked collaboratively to develop a practical sustainability roadmap for 2026.
Discussions were also organized around specific implementation tracks, allowing teams to identify priorities, develop actionable plans, and define strategies for sustaining and scaling the program’s impact across different settings.
The leadership visit served as an important platform for strengthening collaboration, sharing implementation experiences, and reinforcing the collective commitment of partners to improving newborn care in Ethiopia.
Through its coordination and implementation research role, CIS continues to support efforts to strengthen health systems, promote sustainable newborn care interventions, and ensure that evidence-based improvements translate into better outcomes for small and sick newborns and their families.
