A free open-heart surgery campaign was officially launched at Jimma University, bringing together top international and local cardiac experts to provide life-saving treatment for 50 underprivileged children over the next ten days, with plans to scale up to 1,000 children annually.
The opening ceremony brought together distinguished visiting cardiac surgeons and health professionals from Italy, renowned Ethiopian cardiac surgeons accompanied by assisting medical professionals, Mr. Berhan Tedla ,the founder and chairman of the Heart to Heart Children’s Aid Foundation, and guest of honor Ambassador Fitsum Arega, Director General of the Ethiopian Diaspora Service. Community representatives and religious leaders were also in attendance to witness this historic healthcare milestone.
Each open-heart surgery provided under this mission is valued between 1.0 and 1.5 million Ethiopian Birr a staggering financial relief for families who would otherwise be completely unable to afford such critical care. By covering these costs in full, the campaign directly targets the most vulnerable segments of society, ensuring that poverty is not a barrier to a second chance at life.
Hosting advanced cardiac procedures of this scale represents a significant milestone for the Jimma Medical Center, highlighting the hospital’s rapidly growing surgical and medical capacity. Officials emphasized the need to sustain and strengthen this momentum through continued staff capacity building, ensuring that the institution can independently handle complex cardiac cases in the future.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Jimma University, Heart to Heart Children’s Aid, Ethio Istanbul General Hospital, Una Voce Padre Pio, and CCPM. Following the current 10-day surgical mission, which will treat the first 50 children, an additional 50 children will receive care at the Jimma University Medical Center six months from now. Organizers have also confirmed that for children residing in remote areas facing transportation hurdles, specialists will travel directly to their locations to provide on-site treatment.
Professor Ahmed Zeynudin, Chief Executive Officer of the Jimma University Health Institute, expressed his deep appreciation to all partners who fulfilled their responsibilities for the program’s successful launch. He reaffirmed that free medical services benefiting the community will continue to be strengthened and expanded in the future.
Dr. Hunde Ahmed, Clinical Director of the Medical Center, highlighted Jimma University’s long-standing tradition of providing free medical services beyond its academic and teaching missions.
Mr. Berhan Tedla, Founder and Board Chairperson of Heart-to-Heart Children’s Aid, further announced that the program will be sustained throughout 2019 (E.C.) in collaboration with government hospitals across 10 different Ethiopian cities, ensuring that this life-saving care reaches even more children nationwide.
Jimma University formally acknowledged and extended its deepest gratitude to the entire international and local medical team, as well as all collaborative partners, for their dedication and compassionate service in making these life‑saving surgeries possible. The university reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining this momentum through continued capacity building.
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