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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:
-
The Ethiopian Medical
Association (EMA) and ENAHPA jointly sponsored the Annual EMA Conference and the
Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ethiopia.
-
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.
-
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
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