Recently, Ethiopian-American Doctors’ Group (EADG) has been providing Orthopedic Surgery to Ethiopian Sportspersons at Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital (AaBET) in Addis Ababa.
AaBET, as the main trauma hospital in Addis Ababa, is
crowded by people with orthopedic injuries. In fact, orthopedics makes about 70
per cent of its volume of patients. AaBET Chief Administrator and Development
Director Haile Megersa, explained that there is significant shortfall in
meeting the growing demand for orthopedic surgery due to lack of facility as
well skilled manpower in.
He noted that AaBET is working on rented facility which is costing the hospital over seventeen million Birr per year. He also stated that the hospital is working with pertinent stakeholders and that he hopes in the coming years the hospital will be able to address the challenges.
AaBET has been operational for the last three years and provides services to over nationwide drawn 45 thousand patients per year.
He noted that, about seven hundred patients are in the waiting list for orthopedics surgery, most of whom require specialized surgeries. The services of volunteers such as Ethio- American Doctors Group along with local volunteers is helping the hospital address its serious challenges.
“We try to communicate and facilitate each activity and we are grateful we had conducted productive return from these campaigns, and we love to thank them for their efforts and dedication to all the voluntary service they provide our community” said Haile.
HE further expressed optimism that various medical associations operating abroad will be part of these efforts, and they are willing to work with everyone. “ We would like to invite them to come to Ethiopian and be part of the giving back and making life easier for those who are suffering from various diseases and conditions” he asserted.
The members of Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG) Fund led by Dr. Kebret Kebede, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, have been delivering the service.
Dr. Kebret also noted that, at some point, Ethiopia had more doctors in USA than here in Ethiopia. In the early days, we had attended school free with the tax payers shouldering the expenses and many of us compelled that it is time to give back. Now, we can safely assume that things in Ethiopia are gradually getting better and better.
I come to make valuable contribution with various groups and others who follow our example. Ethiopia desperately needs, the medical professionals working in renowned health facilities in various parts of the Globe, to return and provide their valuable services in their field of expertise.
“We were able to provide our surgical services to various members of society who are on a waiting list of the AaBET Hospital,” Kebret said. “We witnessed people standing up and walking after surgery to thank their doctors in the Ethiopian traditional way.”
Since last week, EADG Fund sponsored Medical Mission Group led by Dr. Wiemi Douoghui are operating on Ethiopian sportspersons who are suffering from a skeletomuscular disorder.
“Our hospital has qualified medical doctors but doesn’t have total hip replacement equipment,” says Abiy Worku (MD), Asst. Professor and Orthopedic Surgeon at AaBET Hospital. “As the Ethio-American Doctors Group brought the equipment needed, we can provide the service to our patients.”
For the surgery of the sportspersons, the Ethio-American Doctors Group brought the globally notable surgeon Wiemi A. Douoguih (MD), Medical Director at Medical Star Sports Medicine in Washington and physician to the Washington basketball and baseball teams.
The Group also brought medical equipment and supplies with the support of its members. From the imported equipment the Group donated the Arthroscopy set and implants donated by Arthrex to AaBET Hospital. The Ethio-American Doctors Group is currently building a world-class tertiary hospital with an outlay of 110 million USD. With more than 350 members, the Group also gives continuing education on medicine and surgery for local medical doctors every year.
Wiemi A. Douoguih (MD) for his part noted that “I am so glad to be here; I had conducted nine surgeries till August 9/2019. It gives me great pleasure being part of this kind of humanitarian activity. In my view Ethiopia’s medical system should establish medical center that could deal with sport professional cases because, I had witnessed many young sportspersons retiring early due to minor injuries that could have been treated in a timely manner so they can pursue their dreams and achieve great success”.
Hamelmal Tirfe, a woman in her 40s had undergone hip operation by Dr. Kebret. “I used to live in Addis Ababa around the center of the capital called piazza. One of the bones around my hip broke when I fell down”.
According to her “It was a terrible incident because I could not afford to go to the medical, but it was miracle that happened to me met Dr. Kebret and his team from USA and they fix and make me happy again”.
“I am grateful for everyone who had been working in backing the efforts and call on medical professionals to come here to help and be part of the giving back humble approach.”
Yohanis Gebrekidan is a football player in Wolwalo Adigrat Sport Club. He noted that Ethiopia has many prospective sportspersons but when they sustain minor injuries many are driven out of their career, and had they been operated early they would be great asset to the discipline and bring great honor and distinction to their country during international competitions.
“Yes, injuries are common in an athlete’s life comprising of bone and skull fractures, and once upon a time I had sustained an injury that led me to quit my career as football player. In Ethiopia we do not have special place that could help sportspersons during injuries, and many are subjected to serious conditions as a result. I am going to go surgery by the team now and I am glad to have this kind of opportunity. I cannot afford this type of surgery because it requires over 40 thousand USD.”
Giving back is what everyone should join and it is a great opportunity. I look forward to work with this Group and be part of educating and training the medical professionals here in Ethiopia. Though we conducted the surgery on those we could, there are over seven hundred patients in the waiting list, so it needs concerted effort to address the backlogs.
Maggie MacKeever Physician Assistant told this writer “I joined Ethio-American Doctors Group Fund’s mission as Dr. Kebret Kebede and the Group had facilitated all staff and equipment needs. We had a productive stay here in the hospital helping the needy through surgical interventions; and we had learnt the demand is high”.
According to the members of the group, knowledge and technology transfer could be completed through this kind of platforms and it is good to make sure the effort is directed towards sustainability in building national capacity.
The Ethiopian Herald August 14, 2019
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
