An Ethiopian-American physician couple has led a multinational volunteer medical mission that delivered free life-saving cardiac treatment to 114 Ethiopian patients, including 15 children, while bringing together 55 specialists from six countries in one of the country’s largest recent international cardiovascular outreach initiatives.
The latest Heart Attack Ethiopia mission provided advanced cardiac care at the Cardiac Center Ethiopia, Myungsung (Korea) Hospital, St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital and Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, where volunteer teams performed interventional cardiology procedures, pediatric structural heart interventions, open-heart surgery and electrophysiology treatments for patients who otherwise faced limited access to highly specialized care.
The initiative was spearheaded by Ethiopian-American physicians Dr. Tesfaye Telila and Dr. Obsinet Merid, founders of the U.S.-based nonprofit Heart Attack Ethiopia, whose mission extends beyond conducting volunteer surgeries to strengthening Ethiopia’s long-term cardiovascular care capacity through specialist training and international clinical partnerships.
Dr. Telila, an interventional cardiologist practicing in the United States, has said his commitment to improving cardiac care in Ethiopia was shaped by the loss of a close family member who was unable to access timely heart treatment. Dr. Merid, an internist and medical educator, has similarly spoken of personal family loss as a driving force behind the couple’s efforts to improve access to life-saving care in Ethiopia.
The 55-member volunteer delegation included cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, electrophysiologists, nurses and allied health professionals from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Botswana and Rwanda, combining direct patient care with knowledge sharing alongside Ethiopian healthcare professionals.
Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba thanked the international medical team for its contribution to expanding access to advanced cardiac treatment and supporting the country’s efforts to strengthen specialized healthcare services.
Heart Attack Ethiopia has become an important bridge between Ethiopia’s healthcare system and members of the Ethiopian medical diaspora, combining volunteer specialist care with capacity building aimed at creating sustainable access to advanced cardiovascular services across the country.
BY: Tewodros Balcha Mulisa, Buna Kurs – Independent Ethiopian Medical News Desk