Speakers 21st March
At our meeting on 21 March tow speakers Fortuna Berhane of the Australia Tigray Alliance and Dr Hiwet Aregawi a medical practioner who arrived in Australia a year ago. They gave us a powerful insight to the needs in Tigray following the two year civil war.
Fortuna acknowledged the work through our Horn of Africa Project supporting the Ayder Hospital and emphasised the ways in which ongoing support support can be provided:
• Contribute financially to the Urgent Medical Supplies for Ayder Hospital project campaign (link provided below)
• Share the campaign and tell their networks about the ongoing crisis in Tigray so more help can be directed to the region
• Reach out to Ayder hospital directly to support them and find out more about their needs, contact details provided below
• reach out to ATA to partner with us on any ideas to support the people of Tigray and recovery of the region, including in relation to the healthcare crisis, famine, education, refugee crisis or other human rights issues (contact details provided below)
• Reach out to ATA or Visit ATA’s website for any further information and to donate (details below)
Hiwet highlighted how the war resulted in the despair of not being able to offer treatment due to lack of medication, dialysis facilities, dressings and resulting in many deaths.She gave some heart wrenching case histories illustrating the parlous state of hospital services.
Some disturbing facts:
70% of hospitals in Tigray remain non-functioning severely limiting access to health care.
90% of the population in Tigray face acute food insecurity and millions face the risk of famine
60% lack access to clean water
The photo below demonstrates what life was like in the Ayder hospital before and then during the conflict.
The presentation highlighted to value of Jama's work sending equipment to the Ayder Hospital.
Contact details and links:
- ATA: Email - advocacy@australiatigray.com. Website - australiatigrayalliance.org.
- Link for the Urgent Medical Supplies for Ayder Hospital fundraising campaign: Rotary Club Footscray - Medical Supplies for Ayder Hospital | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising
- Ayder Hospital: Chief Executive Director Dr Kibrom Gebreselassie: kibrom30@gmail.com