January 16, 2008

San Franciscans Send Medical Supplies to Ethiopa

Two residents of San Francisco’s Bay area are sending medical supplies to their home country of Ethopia to help provide treatment for the growing number of Ethiopians living with HIV/AIDS, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (sfgate.com, 1/16).

For the past five years, Emebet Bellingham and Joseph Zeleke have sent $5.4 million in hospital equipment to the AIDS-ravaged sub-Saharan African country through their nonprofit group World Family. Working closely with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and the Clinton Foundation, the group continues to support dozens of clinics that provide Ethiopians with HIV education and antiretroviral medications with functional-but-outdated tools from the United States.

“It makes a huge difference for those communities,” Zeleke told the Chronicle. “Even the simplest [equipment] can make their lives so much easier.”

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Cookie Arbuckle, Oklahoma City, 2008-01-17 11:15:28
Bravo! That's exactly what it takes, a dedicated group of people willing to see and act on the problem. Our organization, Other Options does it for a HIV childrens clinic in Guatemala, Central American and have for ten years and it works. Less children end up in the Hospice and more end up at home and in school. Good for you all. Cookie