Mekelle is the capital of the Tigray Region, the northernmost region of Ethiopia. It is home to Mekelle University and its College of Health Sciences. The College of Health Sciences currently has approximately 2,000 students, about 50% of whom are enrolled in the School of Medicine.
In September 2008, the Ayder Referral Hospital was inaugurated under the auspices of Mekelle University. Its purpose is to provide healthcare services to the local community and contribute to the comprehensive training of future doctors and nurses.
Despite significant shortages of medical staff and equipment, the Ayder Referral Hospital continues to expand and develop, thanks to its large capacity and modern infrastructure.
It is the second-largest hospital in Ethiopia, with 400 operational beds, compared to 280 in the previous year (out of a total capacity of 480 beds), and 4 operating theatres currently in use out of a total of 7.
The number of specialist physicians has nearly doubled over the past year, increasing from 12 to 22. The medical staff includes 5 internists, 4 pediatricians, 2 gynecologists, 2 general surgeons, 1 ENT specialist, 1 orthopedic surgeon, 1 radiologist, 3 dermatologists, 2 pathologists, and 1 psychiatrist.
The hospital staff also includes 25 general practitioners, 80 final-year medical students, 190 nurses, 7 nurse anesthetists, 31 orderlies, 4 mortuary technicians, 28 laboratory assistants, and 4 information technology specialists.
Following an invitation from Dr. Zerihun Abebe, Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Mekelle University, and building on the experience of the first mission as well as the needs of both the Ayder Referral Hospital and the local community of the Tigray Region, Mission ANTHROPOS organized a second consecutive medical and humanitarian mission. In addition to general surgeons and ENT specialists, the mission also included pediatric surgeons.
The 2011 Mission Results in Numbers
Surgical Procedures:
In five working days, a total of 51 surgical procedures were performed, including:
- 26 pediatric surgical procedures
- 14 ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) procedures
- 11 general surgery procedures
Training:
- Fifteen (15) physicians received both theoretical and practical training in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) principles.
- Approximately 60 members of the hospital’s medical and paramedical staff—including specialist physicians, medical students, and nurses—received theoretical and practical training in Basic Life Support (BLS) for adults and children, including the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
- Approximately 20 members of the hospital’s medical and paramedical staff were trained in modern surgical and anesthesiology techniques during surgical procedures.
- The Greek pediatricians participated in the daily ward rounds for pediatric patients, providing diagnostic recommendations and treatment strategies based on internationally recognized best practices.
- Lectures were delivered on a variety of pediatric diseases.
- The outpatient ENT clinic was organized and further developed.
Athanasopoulou Nikoletta, Nurse, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens
Panteleimon Vasiliou, General Surgeon, Lecturer in General Surgery, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), “Attikon” General Hospital, Athens
Garini Eleana, Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Penteli Children’s General Hospital, Athens
Athens
Geranios Angelos, General Surgeon, Livadeia General Hospital
Georgiadi Eleni, Resident in Internal Medicine, Larissa General Hospital.
Diamantopoulos Stavros, Pediatrician – Endocrinologist, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens.
Dousi-Anagnostopoulou Ypatia, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Mission Organizer.
Kochliou Chrysoula, Nurse, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens
Makris Alexandros, Anesthesiologist, “Asklepieio” General Hospital of Voula, Athens
Metaxa Zoi, Pediatric Resident, “Asklepieio” General Hospital of Voula, Athens
Baxevanis Fotis, Paramedic, Hellenic National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB), BLS Program Director, Athens
Oikonomopoulou Alexandra, Pediatric Surgery Resident, “Agia Sofia” Children’s General Hospital, Athens
Papadopoulos Dimitris, Anesthesiologist, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Larissa General Hospital
Pergamalis Giorgos, Pediatric Surgeon, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens
Salakos Christos, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), “Attikon” General Hospital, Athens
Skia Varvara, ENT Surgeon, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens
Stergiopoulos Spyros, Associate Professor of General Surgery, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), “Attikon” General Hospital, Athens
De Verney Yvelise Maria Fritsch, Pediatric Surgeon, “Iaso Paidon” Hospital, Athens
Volunteers
Zeri Maria
Ευχαριστούμε θερμά τους χορηγούς
- Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Ιωάννη Σ. Λάτση
- Ίδρυμα Α. Γ. Λεβέντη
- Εταιρεία Scepsi
καθώς και :
- το Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Λιβαδειάς και το Νοσοκομείο «ΙΑΣΩ Παίδων» για την προσφορά ιατροφαρμακευτικού υλικού,
- τις εταιρείες Cana ΑΕ Φαρμακευτικά εργαστήρια και TELEFLEX MEDICAL HELLAS A.E.E. για την προσφορά αναλώσιμων υλικών και προϊόντων,
- την εταιρεία VASCO MEDICAL, για τη δωρεάν χρήση 2 προπλασμάτων και απινιδιστών για τις ανάγκες των σεμιναρίων Βασικής Ανάνηψης (BLS) και προχωρημένης τραυματικής Ανάνηψης (ATLS),
- στην εταιρεία Compuserve, για τη δωρεά παιχνιδιών που προσφέρθηκαν στο χώρο απασχόλησης της Παιδιατρικής Κλινικής του νοσοκομείου
- την εταιρία EFG Eurolife για την ταξιδιωτική ασφάλιση των εθελοντών
- την εταιρεία CIVITAS για τη δημιουργία του ιστότοπου της οργάνωσης (www.missionanthropos.com)
- την Turkish Airlines για τη δωρεάν μεταφορά εξοπλισμού και αναλώσιμων υλικών
- την Ελληνική Κοινότητα της Addis Ababa και τον Πρέσβη κ. Μ. Δαρατζίκη και στην οικογένεια Κ. Καλογερόπουλου, που γιά δεύτερη χρονιά
υποδέχθηκαν και παρέθεσαν δείπνο στα μέλη της αποστολής στην Addis Ababa. - την Μάγια Τσόκλη και τα μέλη της τηλεοπτικής εκπομπής της ΝΕΤ «Ταξιδεύοντας», που συνόδευσαν και κατέγραψαν το ανθρωπιστικό έργο των μελών της αποστολής.
General information
Our mission at a glance ….
Where: Ayder Referral University Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia
When: 2-11 April 2011
Results
- 51 surgical operations performed
- 26 pediatric surgery cases
- 14 ear, nose and throat (ENT) cases
- 11 general surgery cases
- medical and paramedical personnel trained in new surgical procedures,
- 15 local doctors trained in the basic principles of ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support),
- more than 60 local members of medical and paramedical personnel trained in BLS (Basic Life Support) for adults and children, with use of external defibrillator,
- organization of out-patient ENT surgery clinic,
- 400 kg of medical equipment and surgical consumables donated to the hospital,
- clothes, toys and books donated to the patients of the Pediatric Department,
Volunteers
- Athanasopoulou Nikoletta , Theatre Nurse, “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital, Athens
- Baxevanis Fotios, Commander for Civil Protection Units, Course Director BLS, Hellenic National Center for Emergency Care, Athens
- De Verney Yvelise , Pediatric Surgeon, “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital
- Diamantopoulos Stavros, Paediatric Endocrinologist, “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital, Athens
- Doussis-Anagnostopoulou Ipatia, Pathologist, Associate Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Head Mission ANTHROPOS
- Garini Eleana, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, Penteli’s Children’s Hospital, Athens
- Georgiadi Eleni, Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, Larisa General Hospital
- Geranios Angelos, General Surgeon, Livadia General Hospital
- Kochliou Chrysoula, Theatre Nurse, “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital, Athens
- Makris Alexandros, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, “Asklepieion” General Hospital, Athens
- Metaxa Zoi, Resident Paediatrician , “Asklipieion” General Hospital, Athens
- Oikonomopoulou Alexandra, Resident in Pediatric Surgery, Agia Sofia Children‘s Hospital, Athens
- Papadopoulos Dimitrios, Anaesthetist, Consultant ICU, Larisa General Hospital
- Pergamalis Georgios, Pediatric Surgeon, Consultant “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital, Athens
- Salakos Christos, Pediatric Surgeon, Assistant Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Attikon” General Hospital
- Skia Varvara, ENT Surgeon Consultant “IASO Paidon” Pediatric Hospital, Athens
- Stergiopoulos Sryridon, General Surgeon, Associate Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Attikon” General Hospital
- Vassiliou Pantelis, General Surgeon, Clinical Lecturer, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Attikon” General Hospital
Thank you
We would like to warmly thank our sponsors:
- John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation
- A. G. Leventis Foundation
- Scepsi Company
as well as:
- Livadeia General Hospital and “IASO Children’s Hospital” for the donation of medical supplies and materials.
- Cana S.A. Pharmaceutical Laboratories and TELEFLEX MEDICAL HELLAS S.A.E.E. for the donation of consumable materials and products.
- VASCO MEDICAL for the free use of 2 training mannequins and defibrillators for the needs of the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) seminars.
- Compuserve for the donation of toys provided for the activity area of the hospital’s Pediatric Clinic.
- EFG Eurolife for providing travel insurance coverage for the volunteers.
- CIVITAS for the creation of the organization’s website (www.missionanthropos.com).
- Turkish Airlines for the free transportation of equipment and consumable materials.
- The Hellenic Community of Addis Ababa, Ambassador Mr. M. Daratzikis, and the Kalogopoulos family, who for the second consecutive year welcomed the mission members and hosted a dinner for them in Addis Ababa.
- Maya Tsokli and the members of the NET television program “Taxidevontas”, who accompanied and documented the humanitarian work of the mission members.
Photos
