Upgrading of neonatal pediatric unit and starting an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for neonates in physical distress at Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa. IFA in conjunction with the Addis Ababa Health Bureau, is undertaking to upgrade the existing neonatal and pediatric services of existing hospitals.

The International Fund for Africa (IFA), in conjunction with the Addis Ababa Health Bureau, has undertaken to upgrade the existing neonatal and pediatric services of existing hospitals to provide more of the much needed neonatal and pediatric care for the public. IFA's initial efforts in this area have recently provided new equipment and supplies to Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa.

Upgrading of Existing Hospitals

Yekatit 12 Hospital is a referral hospital under the Addis Ababa City Government Health Bureau (AACG-HB) and has a total of 265 beds. It functions through a referral system but accepts emergency cases without referral. The hospital has 9 major departments and 6 units; has laboratory facilities and diagnostic examinations with routine and special radiological investigations including ultrasound services. In pediatrics and maternity alone, Yekatit 12 treats well over 15,000 patients annually. In addition to being overwhelmed with patients, it suffers from a shortage of trained staff.

Prior to IFA's intervention, Yekatit 12 often lacked the medical equipment and supplies necessary to treat many complications of newborns. Mother and baby were sent to Black Lion by taxi or on foot, depending on whether the parent could afford car fare. If the baby survived this ordeal and the commensurate delay in treatment, the child often died while awaiting treatment at Black Lion, which is itself overwhelmed with its own patients and the referrals from elsewhere.

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The International Fund for Africa provided a large donation of equipment to Yekatit, including incubators, phototherapy equipment, beds, intravenous cannulas, suction machines, oxygen con-centrators, pulse oxy-meters, a cardiopulmonary monitor, glucometers, and an ECG machine to Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia. This gift equipped 80% of the neonatal unit and will save tens of thousands of young lives. The remaining 20% of needed equipment will complete the neonatal unit. Much more needs to be done, however, to further upgrade Yekatit 12 as well as other hospitals in the country. In June of 2008, IFA made an additional gift of pediatric stethoscopes, scrubs, jackets, protective eye wear, shoes, watches, and caps to the Yekatit 12 neonatal nursing staff and Doctor.

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Dr. Anteneh Roba, founding President of IFA recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia earlier this March 2009 where he delivered additional supplies to Yekatit 12 Hospital, including baby clothing, a lap top computer, an LCD monitor, a projector, printer, scanner, and copier as well as nurses uniforms and scrubs and assorted medical supplies. On the day that he delivered the equipment and supplies, the Addis Ababa Health Bureau and the hospital gave a luncheon in his honor at the Intercontinental Hotel. Dr. Mulualem, the head of Neonatology Services at Yekatit Hospital and Dr. Hassen Mohammud the Head of the Addis Ababa Health Bureau presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the International Fund for Africa for its efforts to assist the hospital in providing improved health care for children and new-borns. Mr.Fitsum Arega,Head of Trade and Industry Development for the city of Addis Ababa also was a principal speaker, and the event was broadcast on National Radio and Television. Partly because of the significant efforts of the IFA, the city will soon be constructing a 4-story Pediatric facility, one whole floor of which will be dedicated to the Neonatology unit.

Subsequently, while visiting the High Risk Clinic at the hospital with Dr. Mulualem, Dr. Roba met with six babies and their parents – six babies who would not be alive today if it were not for the efforts of Dr. Mulualem and the equipment provided by IFA. The parents testified as to how they had earlier given up hope for their very sick babies and later were able to take home beautiful healthy children.

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In June 2009, IFA's president Dr Anteneh Roba delivered equipment and supplies necessary to create a Neonatal ICU, including three Pediatric/Neonatal ventilators donated by the New York Mt.Sinai Medical School Department of Neonatology through the good offices of Dr. Ian R. Holzman, Professior of Pediatric Medicine and Chief of the Division of Newborn Medicine, three Cardio-Pulmonary monitors, and I -Stat machine for blood analysis, a portable X-ray Machine with fluoroscope capabilities, three humidifiers, three condensers, three sets of otoscopes and opthalmoscopes, a defibrillator, and a large supply of accessory equipment necessary for respiratory care. This most recent gift of the organization completed the basic essential equipment needed for the ICU. This is now the first and only neonatal ICU in the country as far as is known, and hopefully it will make a huge difference in the survival rate of new infants with serious diseases and birth-related problems.

At the Neonatal ICU opening ceremony ,His excellency Dr Teodros Adhanom ,Minister of Health of Ethiopia presented a Certificate of Merit to the International Fund for Africa. Subsequently the NICU was visited by his Excellency Mr. Donald Yamamoto,US ambassador to Ethiopia and representatives of the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation and the Clinton Foundation.

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The next steps are to create Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units and an inter-hospital ambulance service and hire and train staff to run the new units. Then, it’s on to the next hospital with critical needs.

International Fund for Africa seeks to serve as a voice for infants and children in Ethiopia to ensure that every baby and child is given the chance to grow and realize his or her full potential. By saving lives at birth, treating sick children, and working with children, their families, communities, governments, and non-governmental organizations, IFA will make good things happen until the people can help themselves. You are invited to join us in this worthwhile endeavor. Please make your donation today by clicking on donate. No amount is too small. All gifts are greatly appreciated.

You are invited to join us in this worthwhile endeavor. Please make your donation today by clicking on donate. No amount is too small. All gifts are greatly appreciated