- R.K. and Aleah Arundale
- Contributing Life’s Lessons to HCP: The Michael Lewis Story
- Dr. Mo Hartstein
- Angel
- Alex Chapple
- Christopher Briscoe
- Texan Students Win Charity Competition
- Meet the Dullo Family
- Dr. Oscar Afari Debrah
- Dr. Liknaw Adamu
- Northern Highlands High School’s United Nations Class
- Adjoe
- Dr. Sisay Bekele
- Awo
- Dr. Gladys Fordjour
- Mary
- Benedicta Boah
- Johnny Deng
- Dr. Kwadwo Amoah
- Healthy Vision Association
- Khadga Bahadur Bhandari
- Yusuf Mussa
- Drs. Abigail Nyarko and Akwasi Ahmed
- Meet 65 year old Sabitra Magar
- St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College
- Dr. Naa Tagoe
- Jace Tang
- Faustina Adu-Poku
- Mary Mensah
- Dr. Vera Essuman
- Izumi Foundation
- Dr. Haftamu Assefa
- Dr. Tesfaye Tadesse
- Workenesh Cheru
- Dr. Zelalem Gizachew Tekle
- Climbers Scale Dhaulagiri to Cure Blindness
- Dr. Akwasi Ahmed
- Healthy Vision Association
- Ongyel Sherpa
- Gebretsahme Welde Selase
- Dr. Sadik Taju Sherief
- Melkemu
- Eye Center in Oregon Initiates Global Partners Program
- Dr. Abraham Aregay
- Dr. Helen Sisay
- Dr. Angira Shrestha
- Four Friends Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to Help #cureblindness
- Dr. Daniel Getaneh
- Donor Chops Off Dreadlocks to Raise Money for HCP
- Dr. Kumale Tolesa
- Family Foundation Gives Large Donation after watching “Out of Darkness” on 60 Minutes
- Dorcas
- Curt Schlosser
- USAID/ASHA: Improving lives together through Innovation
- Healthy Vision Association (HVA)
- Anil Rai
- Dr. Wah Wah Lwin
- Nunu Weleye
- Henok Lema
- Eskedar Haji
- Donor Spotlight: Aston’s Birthday Gift
- Dr. Alemu Kerie Tesfaw, Ophthalmologist
- Nurse Marta
- Deb White
Dr. Zelalem Addisu, a cataract surgeon, is one of hundreds of ophthalmic personnel in Ethiopia whose training has been supported by HCP since our work began there in 2008. Dr. Zelalam's story demonstrates the enduring value of investing in talented people in order to ensure sustainable eye care provision in under-resourced countries, especially in rural and remote settings.
Dr. Zelalem has committed his career to serving the underserved communities outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, where he has provided essential eye care for the last 12 years. Dr. Zelalem has a private practice, Eyu Clinic, in Hosanna, where he offers treatment free of charge for those that cannot afford care, with support from HCP.
More than 70% of Ethiopia’s ophthalmologists reside in Addis Ababa, where less than 20% of the population lives. That means few doctors are available to those living in less populated areas like Hosanna. Dr. Zelalem’s work in South Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) helps restore the sight of those who otherwise would not have access to local eye care.
"To be honest, words can’t explain what HCP has been doing for the underprivileged Ethiopian communities,” Dr. Zelalem said. “Thanks to the support of HCP and its donors, we have been able to keep bringing the gift of sight to those who need it most. Curing someone of cataract blindness gives them their life back and this means so much to the people we help."
Dr. Zelalem and his clinic’s staff recently traveled to the Wassera Catholic Health Center, about 30 km outside of Hosanna, to help restore sight to 20 patients.
Next month, there are nearly 30 patients scheduled for cataract surgeries at Wassera Catholic Health Center. The plan is to continue with monthly events to reduce the number of needlessly blind people in the region.
These outreach efforts are planned in coordination with local teams and adhere to the Covid-19 protocols enacted by the Ethiopian government to ensure the health and safety of the patients and medical providers. Given the shift away from high-volume care, smaller monthly outreach events have proven an effective and safe way to continue our work to address the backlog of cataract blindness.
