Humanitarian Aid in Ethiopia - Medical Missions
OUR WORK IN ETHIOPIA
We are delighted to announce that we have expanded our medical focus in Ethiopia to include quarterly Medical Missions to both Tigray in the North and the Southern Nations Nationalities and People's Republic (SNNPR)! These medical trips are led by WHFC adoptive dad Dr. Fletcher Wilson of New Hampshire and Dr. Stephan Coffman of Oregon. The healthcare providers involved in these trips are focusing on the following areas:
- Performing surgeries in under-resourced hospitals
- Providing training to local physicians and nurses on updated medical practices
- Traveling to rural communities to train traditional birth attendants and community health workers
- Procuring needed equipment and supplies for severely under-equipped health facilities
On a recent trip, doctors taught traditional birth attendants how to administer misoprostol, a very inexpensive and easy-to-use drug that stops hemorrhaging for women during childbirth. Hemorrhaging is the primary cause of maternal deaths in Ethiopia. Training local caregivers how to administer misoprostol can save thousands of lives. On future trips, medical teams will work in communities to improve access to iodine, and instruct healthcare providers on neonatal resuscitation. Ethiopia has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in the world, which could be greatly reduced with proper neonatal resuscitation techniques. Additionally, thousands of Ethiopians suffer from goiters (enlarged thyroid gland) and many children are born with mental retardation, often both the result of iodine deficiency.
WHFC has completed two medical trips to Ethiopia, the first in November 2008 to Tigray and the second to the SNNPR in May 2009. Doctors on these trips performed more than 100 surgeries and educated 60 traditional birth attendants on misoprostol use. Three trips are now scheduled for October 2009 through June 2010. Dr. Wilson's vision is to coordinate as many as four or more tours in both the north and the south each year. Initially, the focus will be on immediate needs, however, by offering regular surgical services the hope is to encourage more local surgeons to stay in these areas, due to the improved training and equipment that the missions will ensure.
Support Our Mission
WHFC needs to raise $50,000 to run these missions and provide for equipment and supplies. In addition, donations of $60,000 will purchase urgently needed ambulances to transport rural residents to the hospital, which could mean the difference between life and death for the local population.
Join Our Mission
We invite doctors, nurses, public health professionals, and other health care specialists to apply to join one of our a medical missions to Ethiopia. We particularly need doctors with the following specialties:
- Opthalmology
- General surgery
- Obstetrics/gynecology
- Plastic surgery
- Other surgical specialties
- Anesthesiology
Additionally, prior experience administering medical care in third-world countries is helpful. Conditions are uncertain, and may involve working without fresh water or electricity. Openings for this and future missions may become available at the last minute, and applicants able to travel on short notice will be given priority.
All mission volunteers are expected to pay WHFC a tax-deductible fee to cover airfare costs to and from Ethiopia, in-country travel, food and lodging, and medical supplies for the hospital in Ethiopia. The cost for each trip varies, but is approximately $2,500. Volunteers are responsible for obtaining a valid passport, any necessary immunizations, and any other related costs.
Individuals who are interested in joining a future mission should complete the 2-step application process:
- Please complete our volunteer form and email it ALONG WITH a copy of a current curriculum vitae to medicalmission@whfc.org.
- Mail a notarized copy of your license and other credentials to:
WHFC Medical Mission
38 Edge Hill Road
Waltham, MA 02451
Each mission varies depending upon needs. Applicants need not reapply, as all applicant information will be stored in a database for future missions, and selected applicants will be contacted by one of the doctors heading up the medical trip.
Financial Support
You can also help by providing financial support through a donation to Wide Horizons For Children, specifying its use for the medical missions. We are in need of benefactors to help with the expenses of our missions, which comprises such items as in-country travel, medical supplies and equipment, and training of staff in Ethiopia.
