Who Are We?
The picture here shows four babies, all from different parents, all being managed on the same bench.
The baby on the far right side just had abdominal surgery and is critically ill. The other three have lesser degrees of illnesses. They all share the same oxygen tubing, intravenous fluids (without any fluid pump), suction catheter and only one radiant warmer attached to the wall. None of them have vital signs monitoring devices attached to them to show their heart rate, breathing rate, or blood oxygen levels.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health is implementing many changes to improve the current state, but there is still so much to be done. We strongly believe that those of us with professional and/or financial resources can work together to make a positive difference for babies born in Ethiopia.
With that in mind the Horn of Africa Neonatal Development Services Inc (HANDS) was established to bring together like mind individuals to make a positive impact in making a difference in saving lives.
HANDS believes that with collaboration and exchange of best practices with the local medical professionals in Ethiopia, we can accomplish our mission to reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. To learn more about our organization, please contact Mesfin Woldesenbet using the Contact Us form on this website.
The baby on the far right side just had abdominal surgery and is critically ill. The other three have lesser degrees of illnesses. They all share the same oxygen tubing, intravenous fluids (without any fluid pump), suction catheter and only one radiant warmer attached to the wall. None of them have vital signs monitoring devices attached to them to show their heart rate, breathing rate, or blood oxygen levels.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health is implementing many changes to improve the current state, but there is still so much to be done. We strongly believe that those of us with professional and/or financial resources can work together to make a positive difference for babies born in Ethiopia.
With that in mind the Horn of Africa Neonatal Development Services Inc (HANDS) was established to bring together like mind individuals to make a positive impact in making a difference in saving lives.
HANDS believes that with collaboration and exchange of best practices with the local medical professionals in Ethiopia, we can accomplish our mission to reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. To learn more about our organization, please contact Mesfin Woldesenbet using the Contact Us form on this website.
What We Do…
HANDS mission is to be a major player in the efforts to decrease the neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in Ethiopia.
Current statistics show that Ethiopia has an overwhelming health care need:
Current statistics show that Ethiopia has an overwhelming health care need:
- The neonatal (0-1 month olds) mortality rate in the US is about 4/1000 live birth while in Ethiopia it is 28/1000.
- The rate of deliveries attended by skilled personnel is just 6% in Ethiopia compared to 99% in the U.S.
- The infant (0-1 year olds) mortality rate in US is about 6/1000 live birth while in Ethiopia is 79/1000.
- The still birth rate in East Africa is 27/1000 live births. 33% of the stillbirths occur during labor.
- The main cause of neonatal death in Ethiopia is infections, prematurity and birth asphyxia. In US the main cause is congenital or chromosomal anomalies and extreme prematurity.
- The number of medical doctors available to provide care per 10,000 people is less than 0.5 in Ethiopia vs. 27 in US.
Objectives
Short Term Objectives
To improve the care provided by existing Ethiopian neonatal intensive care units (NICU) through the capacity building of NICU personnel and provision of tools and equipment.
Long Term Objective
To improve the survival of newborns in Ethiopia through a state-of-the-art NICU in Ethiopia, capacity building for NICU staff, development and application of neonatal curriculum and implementation of improved tools and techniques in collaboration with other like-minded organizations.
Activities
Volunteer medical teams, each comprised of a doctor, a nurse, and a respiratory therapist, travel to Ethiopia twice a year. Each team stays for a 2 weeks duration and provided health care services and education. HANDS goal is to continue these trips and increase the frequency of the medical teams traveling to Ethiopia to six times per year to ensure continued and progressive support. In addition HANDS will continue to collect donations of neonatal equipment and education materials to send to Ethiopia.
To improve the care provided by existing Ethiopian neonatal intensive care units (NICU) through the capacity building of NICU personnel and provision of tools and equipment.
Long Term Objective
To improve the survival of newborns in Ethiopia through a state-of-the-art NICU in Ethiopia, capacity building for NICU staff, development and application of neonatal curriculum and implementation of improved tools and techniques in collaboration with other like-minded organizations.
Activities
- Jimma - Jimma University Hospital
- Bahir Dar - Felege Hiwot Hospital
- Hawassa - Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Volunteer medical teams, each comprised of a doctor, a nurse, and a respiratory therapist, travel to Ethiopia twice a year. Each team stays for a 2 weeks duration and provided health care services and education. HANDS goal is to continue these trips and increase the frequency of the medical teams traveling to Ethiopia to six times per year to ensure continued and progressive support. In addition HANDS will continue to collect donations of neonatal equipment and education materials to send to Ethiopia.
