HealthFirst.org - Striving to Improving Access to Healthcare for Underserved Communities in Ethiopia.
Objectives -
- Facilitate Medical Donations – Collect, refurbish, and ship new or gently used medical equipment and supplies from U.S. donors to Ethiopian facilities.
- Promote U.S. Medical Products –
Building on the foundation of medical donations, HealthFirst encourages Ethiopian healthcare providers to adopt and consistently use high-quality, American-made pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and supplies. As healthcare professionals receive these products through donations, they gain valuable hands-on experience and confidence in using and maintaining them.
This direct exposure helps providers recognize the superior safety, reliability, and performance of American-made products compared to alternatives. Over time, their familiarity and proven success with these tools create a natural and practical incentive to continue sourcing them independently.
By fostering trust and competence in U.S. medical technologies, HealthFirst not only meets immediate healthcare needs but also strengthens long-term trade relationships and sustainable medical practices — ensuring Ethiopian hospitals and clinics continue to rely on dependable American-made pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies
- Foster Partnerships – Collaborate with U.S. hospitals, clinics, suppliers, and nonprofit organizations to secure donated or discounted medical equipment and supplies and coordinate their shipment to underserved healthcare providers in Ethiopia.
- Reduce Health Inequities – Work to lessen the personal, social, and economic harms caused by lack of health education and access to quality healthcare by providing community education on contagious diseases, family planning, and vaccinations to youth, parents, religious leaders, and community leaders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethiopia faced a severe public health crisis, further worsened by the conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government. The Primary Hospital of Dellanta was among the many healthcare facilities destroyed, leaving more than two million people without access to lifesaving medical care.
In response, HealthFirst partnered with several American nonprofit medical suppliers to secure a full container of medical supplies for Ethiopia. At that time, the shipping cost alone was $25,000, which was beyond our financial capacity. We launched a GoFundMe campaign and raised $6,302. Rather than allowing the effort to stall, we chose to donate the funds to a local organization, Fanos Lehulu Charity Organization, to purchase lifesaving medical supplies and deliver them directly to Dellanta Hospital.
The thank-you letter shown above was sent by the Dellanta Hospital administration and county leaders in appreciation of this support.
Purchased, packed and arranged the shipment of lifesaving medical supplies to Dellanta Medical Center.