Archive
December 2006
Dear ENAHPA Members, Friends and Supporters,
As we enter the holiday season and close the year 2006, I want to thank you for your continued support and commitment to the Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA) and its mission and vision. I wish you and your loved ones good health, economic prosperity, peace and happiness in 2007. Under the leadership of ENAHPA’s Board of Directors, chairpersons, committees and the general membership, 2006 has been a banner year.
Let me share with you a few of ENAHPA’s accomplishments in 2006:
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The Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA) and ENAHPA jointly sponsored the Annual EMA Conference and the Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ethiopia.
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Three separate medical/surgical teams (May/June, July, and October 2006) visited Ethiopia. The teams performed cardiac, neurological, otolaryngologic, cardiac pacemaker implant, oral maxillofacial and reconstructive surgeries, gastroenterologic endoscopic procedures and interventional radiology in addition to giving advanced lectures, workshops and hands on training of many medical professionals. The ENAHPA team performed a total of 203 surgeries in Ethiopia in 2006, most of which were new and complex procedures.
- Several shipments of medical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and books were made to the universities, healthcare institutions and facilities in Ethiopia.
- In collaboration with our partners, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health and the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), the HIV/AIDS community-centered holistic care enjoyed continued growth under the leadership of Drs. Yigeremu Abebe, Ruth Lekassa, (as of December 1, 2006 Dr. Habtamu Belete) and the are staff currently treating 5000 patients (both adults and children). The All Leprosy Education Research Training (ALERT) Campus was designated by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health as a center of excellence for training healthcare professionals in the specialty of HIV medicine.
- The ground breaking and the laying of the cornerstone for the first Maternal and Child Health Center in Awassa, Ethiopia which will serve as a “pilot” program for the nine other centers in different regions of the nation was achieved.
- Through donations from individuals and organizations in collaboration with grassroots, Ethiopian-based organizations, we sponsored over 600 (primarily HIV/AIDS) orphaned children providing food, clothing, shelter and education.
- The International Visiting Scholars’ Fellowship program graduated four fellows from the University of Toronto, A. Bernard Ackerman Academy in New York City and Wayne State University in Michigan in diverse medical specialties.
- A partnership was formed between ENAHPA, the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for the purpose of establishing dedicated obstetrical and surgical skills learning centers in the three established universities in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Gondar and Jimma) to be later expanded to the new universities.
- ENAHPA is sponsoring residency training of two surgeons from Addis Ababa University in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery for three years at overseas universities starting in 2007.
- Under the leadership of Engeda Selemon Asfaw, Chairperson of the Young Adult Council, ENAHPA collaborated with our partner, Ethiopian Airlines, to sponsor four medical students from Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Medicine to attend the African Medical Students’ Training Congress in Khartoum, Sudan from December 23-30, 2006.
- ENAHPA sponsored Dr. Habtamu Belete of Addis Ababa University Faculty of Medicine and Bethel Gebremariam, President of the Ethiopian Medical Students’ Association to make presentations on HIV/AIDS at the International AIDS Day in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in August 2006.
- Mr. Alem Chekole joined the ENAHPA family as in-country director in Ethiopia.
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ENAHPA was registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Ethiopia.
- A partnership with the Clinton Foundation, ENAHPA and CCFC was formed for the pediatric arm of HIV care at the ALERT campus.
- Emergency medicine services and residency training programs have been implemented.
- Out of nearly 4,500 nationwide nominees, Dr. Ingida Asfaw was named the Greatest American Hometown Hero and was the recipient of the Volvo for Life grand award, which included 50,000 USD. The 50,000 USD was donated to ENAHPA’s Maternal Child Health Center in Awassa, Ethiopia.
As we usher in the year 2007, let us all reach out in giving a “glimmer of hope” to our sisters and brothers in Ethiopia, Africa and the global community. The need is great and there is much more to do. Again, many thanks and my gratitude to all who extended their hands and helped ENAHPA make 2006 another very successful year. Remember, “Together we can make a difference!”
Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!
With
Gratitude,
Ingida Asfaw, M.D.
ENAHPA President
www.enahpa.org
E-mail:
ENAHPA1@aol.com;
IngidaAsfaw@aol.com
Office: (248) 858-3939
Fax: (248) 858-3844
6632 Telegraph Road
Box 150
Bloomfield Hills MI 48301