ADDIS ABABA – Cardiac Center Ethiopia which performed over 4,860 free cardiac surgeries mainly to children since its establishment in 2009 faces grave funding challenge, limiting its operation to full capacity.
Center Medical Director Dr. Helen Befekadu told The Ethiopian Herald that the extent of the problem has swollen to failing to cover monthly staff wages. Now the Center has trained experts and become self-reliant but funding issues limited it from delivering to expectations, making the experts idle amidst growing demands from patients, according to the director.
She said their contribution in saving thousands of lives and the outflow of hard currency, estimated to hit 15,000USD-18,000 USD per individual over the years, would not continue unless pertinent public and private bodies devise funding mechanisms jointly with the Center. “We saved close to 1.2 billion USD, including 180 million USD to medical services and 715 million USD to experts training.”
“Our only funding source, to pay salaries, is from income collected from building rent, we even pay tax amounting 2.5 million Birr, a sum that can treat 150 kids.” Asked whether the Center get public financing, she said the Center’s establishment as NGO, getting license from the previous Charities and Societies Agency (currently Civil Societies Agency), barred it from getting public finance formally. But, its nature also allowed getting funding from partners to carry out its activities so far.
However, she also acknowledged the Ministry of Health and other public entities relentless supports to the Center. Government’s laws are not dogmatic provisions, hence, revision should be considered when needs arise, she said, “commenting that neighboring Sudan for instance allocates around 5 million Euros to entity that has similar mandate like ours.” She also suggested that Center’s health senior practitioners can raise funds by offering services in cardiac centers of neighboring Horn countries.
The director presented the issue at a national conference Primer Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed held with health professionals. The premier said government will see into all possible ways. Adding, he said: “Government may assign professionals covering their monthly salaries to serve the Center.” During the inauguration of the facility in 2009, Dr. Belay Abegaz said the idea of establishing such a project was conceived 30 years ago.
In addition to the public participation contributing funds under catchphrase ‘One Birr for a heart’, partners including Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, Japanese Embassy and Chain of Hope, among others, lent their assistances to the realization of the establishment.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 10/2019
BY WORKU BELACHEW
