Global Initiative for Better Health, Inc.(GIBH), through its Adopt-A-Clinic Initiative, recently donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Jimma University Teaching Hospital, Menelik II Specialized Hospital (MSH), and St. Paul Hospital at the cost of $20,120. The donation included 40,000 Disposal Medical Masks, 11,000 FFPE NR -Particle Filtering Masks (K95 equivalent), 2,200 Medical Protective Clothing, 1,800 Isolation Gown, and 9,600 Face Shields.
The successful delivery of the PPE was possible because of the support from our donors and partners. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our donors who responded to our fundraising campaign. We are very grateful to the representatives of Ethiopian Airlines and the Ethiopian Consulate in Guangzhou, China for assisting us to ship the PPE to Ethiopia. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the management of St. Paul Hospital for handling the customs clearance and distribution of the PPEs to all beneficiary hospitals. Finally, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington D.C for supporting our campaign. We thank you all for your unwavering support.
The PPE Campaign
The international community is racing to mitigate and eventually halt the spread of COVID-19, a pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and sickened millions of others. In Africa, the virus has spread to almost all countries, resulting in 3,078 deaths as of May 22, 2020. Governments and health authorities across Africa are now implementing measures to fight the spread of this virus.
Ethiopia, the second populous nation in the continent, is one of these countries affected by COVID-19 whose Government is taking measures to fight the pandemic. The first case in the country was reported on March 13. On April 8, the Ethiopian Government declared a state of emergency. Following the state of emergency, the Government canceled its planned national election, limited international flights, enforced 14 days quarantine and testing for international travelers, closed all its land borders and schools, and implemented strict rules prohibiting larger gatherings including in churches and mosques. These measures have helped to slowdown the spread of the virus in the country. However, recent reports are showing that COVID-19 is not only spreading but also the share of community spread among new cases are increasing at an alarming rate.
As a result, our Government has called upon Ethiopian and Ethiopian descents living abroad to help with its efforts. In response to this, GIBH has initiated a targeted fund-raising campaign to support the following three major public hospitals that are on the frontline fighting against this dangerous pandemic.
The beneficiaries
Menelik II Referral Hospital
Menelik II Specialized Hospital (MSH) is the first public hospital in Ethiopia. It was founded by Emperor Menelik II in 1910.
With expertise in general surgery, orthopedics and neurosurgery, it serves as one of the three trauma referral centers in Addis Ababa, providing specialized care to both patients presenting primarily and those referred from other hospitals and health centers in Addis Ababa and other regions of the country.
St Paul’s Hospital
Ever since it was established, first as a Hospital for the destitute in 1968 by the late Emperor Haile Selassie, St. Paul’s has been serving the less fortunate for more than 5 decades now.
St. Paul Hospital prides itself as one of the largest hospitals in the country. Of the average 2000 patients that come through our doors on a daily basis, up to three-fourths receive services completely free of charge. We aim to serve our community with the utmost care and discipline; We hope to become a beacon of hope. As SPHMMC instills an awesome sense of community in all its professionals, our health workers and academic staff are fervently geared towards reaching out to the communities they serve.
Jimma University Hospital
Jimma University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) is one of the oldest public hospitals in Ethiopia. Located in Jimma city 352 km southwest of Addis Ababa, JUTH serves as a teaching and referral hospital for the southwestern part of the country, covering a catchment population of 15 million. Currently, the Hospital provides services for approximately 15,000 inpatient, 160,000 outpatient attendants, 11,000 emergency cases, and 4500 deliveries annually.