Eyob Hope for Children and Youth Inc. Board Members visit to Ethiopia, September 2022 

After hosting the Celebration of Life of Eyob and the Inauguration of Eyob Hope for Children &Youth Inc. (EHCY) on July 30th, 2022, in Los Angeles, at the beginning of September, the Board Members of EHCY traveled to Ethiopia to evaluate and assess the proposed projects and other related activities which are included in the mission statement of EHCY. Before its trip to Ethiopia, the Board, after reviewing the Health Committee’s recommendation ordered fifteen (15) Inoue balloons from Japan to be donated to St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, a public hospital that provides free services to less fortunate children and young adults. First, the Board went to St. Peter’s Hospital (affiliate of St. Paul’s Hospital) to meet the medical staff and observe the procedure of opening of heart valves using the Inoue balloons on one of the young patients.  The Board members were moved by the dedication and professionalism of the medical staff and overwhelmed by the extent of the problem. As part of its mission, the Board also visited Karaalo Elementary School located in Yeka Kefel Ketema to prepare for the drilling of a desperately needed water well for the students and the community around the school. After this initial meeting at the school the Board members went to various government offices which are responsible for the approval of the well drilling project. The Board members also visited The Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia at Cardiac Center – Ethiopia. After the Board members visited the Center the Ato Hiruy Ali, CEO of the center scheduled a meeting with Dr. Belay Abegaz, who is the founder of the Cardiac Center. 

On September 30th, 2022, the Board members attended the handover ceremony for the donation of the fifteen balloons from EHCY to St. Paul’s Hospital. The donated balloons could be used to treat about 45 patients. The handover ceremony took place on Eyob’s 19th birthday. It was a blessing to celebrate the birthday of our beloved Eyob during a ceremony that will help other kids and young children from heart related pain. The Board members finally attended the heart valve opening procedure for a 17-year-old young boy at St. Peter’s Hospital that used one of the balloons donated by EHCY.  EHCY will continue to collaborate tirelessly with its supporters to supply much needed medical equipment and implementation of projects which will fulfill the missions of EHCY. EHCY would like to thank all of you who have supported us from the very beginning. We will continue to work on the tasks that we have started and other tasks which will help us fulfill the missions of EHCY.      

The Board members visited Karaalo Elementary school to discuss the Water Well Project. The Board members met Ato Assefa, (Director of the School) to see the proposed location for the well, the method of operation, the agencies in charge of the well. We also discussed the concern on the operation and maintenance of the well, use of the well by the School and the Community around the School. During the meeting we had a chance to discuss other relevant information required for the drilling of the well and installation of the system. Ato Assefa recommended discussing the issue with his management in the Sub City (Kefle Ketema), Ministry of Education, Office of Education of the Area, and the Water and Sewerage Agency. We met with some of the officials and started working with the Water and Sewerage Agency to get technical information. Due to time constraints, we could not complete the project, but were able to gather critical information and know offices and personnel in charge of similar projects. We met with the Director of the School and informed him of the responses from various offices and agreed to follow up with his office regarding the required approval from his management.  

Dr. Seifu Bacha, Cardiologist at St. Paul Hospital explaining how the balloons work to the Board members. The Board members visited St. Peter’s Hospital (affiliate of St. Paul’s Hospital) to meet the medical staff of the Cardiac Center, to discuss the mission of EHCY and EHCY’s intentions of collaborating with the medical staff and its administration.
Medical Staff and Board members observing the procedure on the monitors while Dr. Seifu and his team were performing the procedure in the Surgery room. Dr. Seifu Bacha and his team gave us a chance to observe the procedure of opening a valve on the heart of a young patient. Dr Seifu explained how critical it is to get the 15 Inoue Balloons that EHCY ordered to donate to the hospital. Dr. Seifu informed us that these fifteen balloons will be reused on average up to three times which could be used to treat 40 to 45 patients.
Doctors using the balloon to open the valve on the patient’s heart and other doctors observing the procedure.
Group picture with medical staff, interns, and EHCY Board members at St. Peter’s Hospital. The Board had made contacts before it left for Ethiopia with the Administration of The Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia, of the Cardiac Center – Ethiopia founded by Dr. Belay Abegaz. The Board members were given the tour of the Center and about the free service the Center provides to kids and young adults from every part of Ethiopia. The Board members met with the staff of the Center and observed a surgery that was taking place for the young patient who had a complication on his heart. The Board members of EHCY informed the Administration and Medical staff of the Center that the Board of EHCY will discuss the possibility of donating critical medical equipment to the center after the Board members return to America.
EHCY Board members Meeting with Ato Hiruy Ali at Cardiac Center – Ethiopia.
Visit to Cardiac Center Operation Room.
Picture in front of at the Entrance to the Center showing the founder of the Center, Dr. Belay Abegaz.
The Board members had a memorable meeting with Dr. Belay Abegaz at his clinic to learn from his experience and express the Board members’ appreciation for a lifelong free service he and the Cardiac Center have been providing to so many kids and children who suffered from heart related diseases. Dr. Belay shared his experience and more importantly pointed out the challenges we will have as a nonprofit organization. After the Board members expressed our sincere appreciation for his service he told us, “The ones who should be thanked and appreciated are the family and friends of your son who have started trying to help others, and I really would like to thank you and feel terribly sorry for your loss.” He expressed his sincere appreciation and advised us to be consistent if we want to become successful. When we finished our visit, he walked with us all the way outside of his office to wish us well. What a great, humble person.
Group picture with Dr. Belay, Ato Hiruy, EHCY Board members and family at Dr. Belay’s office.
Picture of Board members with Dr. Belay and Ato Hiruy holding EHCY Inauguration hat.
Dr. Belay and Ato Hiruy accompanying the Board members outside of the Clinic.
EHCY Board members handing over the Inoue balloons to Dr. Sissay Sirgu, Academic and Reaserch Vice Provost of SPHMMC, and Dr. Seifu to Cardiac Center of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College a public hospital that provides free services to less fortunate children and young adults.

With the help of Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew from Minnesota, Marta Tsegaye, and the Health Committee of the EHCY collaborated with Dr. Seifu and his medical team at St. Paul’s Hospital Cardiac Center to identify the most critical medical equipment needed for the hospital. After discussing with all involved the Board of EHCY approved $30,000.00 to purchase 15 Inoue Balloons to be used by the Hospital to treat children and young adults. Thanks to Ato Yeneneh from Infinity who expedited the order and delivery of the balloons,  

Dr. Sissay Sirgu, Academic and Research Vise Provost of SPHMMC, and Dr. Seifu Bacha, Cardiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital, giving Certificate of Recognition to EHCY.
Group picture of medical staff, Administration of St. Paul Hospital, family, friends, and EHCY Board members.
Picture with Ato Yenenhe from Infinity who helped to expedite the order and timely delivery of the balloons from Japan.

On October 6, 2022, the Board members went to St. Peter’s hospital to witness the use of one of the first balloons donated by EHCY. The Board members had a chance to talk to Tamrat before the procedure was performed by the medical staff. He talked to the Board members with a beautiful smile and excitement for getting the opportunity to be treated at the hospital.  

Tamrat, a 17-year-old, 9th grade student from Northern Showa region of Ethiopia was suffering from severe Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Stenoses for which Percutaneous Balloon Commissurotomy needed to be performed on the two valves of his heart.  Dr. Seifu Bacha and his team performed the procedure at St Peter’s Cardiac Center of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC.) 

Tamrat is the first recipient of the balloons donated to St. Paul by Eyob Hope for Children and Youth Inc. 

As Dr. Seifu pointed out in his post: “Is this a coincidence that Tamrat, the first recipient of the balloons is the same age as Eyob was?” It is an amazing coincidence!! 

After the procedure was completed the Board members had a chance to talk to Tamrat and wished him well. 

Medical staff & Board members having pasti, sambusa, qollo, and coffee after successful procedure for Tamrat’s heart.

After the medical team completed the procedure for Tamrat the Board members were invited to eat breakfast with Dr. Seifu, other doctors, nurses, medical students, and other hospital staff who were all involved to complete the procedure. We enjoyed the pasty, sambusa, qollo with tea or coffee with those courageous professionals who have just completed an amazing procedure on Tamrat. After quick coffee break the Dr. Seifu and his team went operation room to perform similar procedure on a young girl waiting in the operation room. 

EHCY will collaborate tirelessly with its supporters to provide much needed medical equipment to the administration and the medical staff of St. Paul’s Cardiac Center of SPHMMC. On behalf of EHCY and its supporters we would like to thank the Administration, Medical Staff, and everyone at the Hospital working hard to provide free treatment to less fortunate children and youth who come from the entire regions of Ethiopia. 

Best regards, 

www.ehcy.org 

Board members and the Director of Karaalo Elementary School, Ato Assefa.
Discussion with the Director of the School, Ato Assefa.