CHSFS - Ethiopia Community Support

Mehandis was born in the Tembaro District of Mudula, Ethiopia. I remember getting this information at the time of his referral and then "googling" that area. The only thing that came up was a research paper on irrigation. So after reading our international agency's newsletter today, I was very excited to see not only photos, customs and demographic information of the area but also that there are improvements being made... related to our agency's humanitarian aid. The article follows below.

"We are excited to share the humanitarian news aiding Mudula Saturday January 24, 2009 was an exciting and emotional day for CHSFS staff and Tembaro District residents. CHSFS-Ethiopia donated an ambulance to the Tembaro District Health Center in Mudula and thousands turned out to see the ambulance make its way through the area. With a blinking red light on its roof, the brand new Nissan 4WD ambulance filled the air with its loud siren, thousands of people clapped and sang with joy. All of the them were happy that they finally have an ambulance that takes the gravely ill to hospitals found in Durame (37 miles away from Mudula), Areka (24 miles) and Hossana (60 miles).


In a speech, Chief Administrator of the Tembaro District, Abebe Haibano, said since Tembaro is further away from big towns, children and mothers have been dying for there was no ambulance to take them to hospitals. He said 15 children and 8 mothers died in 2008 alone because they couldn't be taken to hospitals in time. The chief administrator commended CHSFS for the donation that would save the lives of many people.

CHSFS staff member, Alan Bachman, was very happy to see the joyful people of Mudula. He said "I have never felt so much love, and so much joy, and so much celebration all my life." Alan Bachman stressed the need to use the ambulance properly and safely.

Gifts were given, in accordance with Tembaro culture, to Asnake, Tsewaye, Abraham and Alan, among others. They were blessed and fed spoonfuls of honey. They were also given handfuls of grass to remember their promise and to be successful in their future development endeavor."