Jhpiego/Ethiopia celebrates Bella Hospital success story
03 April 2006
On 3 April 2006 in Addis Ababa, Jhpiego President and CEO Dr. Leslie Mancuso, Vice
President Dr. Alain Damiba and HIV/AIDS Advisor Dr. Chandrakant Ruparelia joined U.S. and Ethiopian
dignitaries to recognize the achievements of Bella Military Referral Hospital.
Bella Hospital was the first health care facility in Ethiopia to achieve more
than 80% of the national performance standards for prevention of mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT) of HIV. Jhpiego/Ethiopia provided technical assistance for the development of these
standards, which serve as a tool to improve PMTCT services in health care facilities. Such
standards are critical to reducing the transmission from mother to child.
In addition, an HIV services building on the grounds of Bella Hospital was
inaugurated. The building, which will serve as a model center for voluntary counseling and
testing (VCT) for HIV and offer comprehensive antiretroviral treatment for clients, was
renovated with funding from the U.S. government, including PEPFAR (President’s Emergency
Plan For AIDS Relief) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Among those participating in a tour of the Bella facilities were U.S.
Chargé d'Affaires Vicki Huddleston, Ethiopia State Minister of Defense Ato Kassahun Dender,
Dr. Tadesse Wuhib, CDC Country Director, and Lt. Col. Berhanu Zenebe Metaferia, MD, Medical
Director, Bella Hospital.
A ceremony celebrating Bella’s success was attended by more than
100
health care professionals, members of the Ethiopian armed forces, and government and NGO
partners. Speakers, including Ambassador Huddleston, the State Minister of Defense, Dr. Berhanu and Dr. Mancuso, praised the hospital and staff for its achievements. Ambassador
Huddleston, assisted by Dr. Mancuso, presented a certificate of achievement to Dr.
Berhanu. The State Minister of Defense then presented several participating organizations
with plaques and certificates from the Ministry commending their work to advance health
care services in Ethiopia.
Following the ceremony, guests participated in a lunch of traditional
Ethiopian fare served under tents at the hospital.
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U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Vicki Huddleston; Jhpiego President and CEO Dr. Leslie Mancuso;
Jhpiego Vice President Dr.
Alain Damiba; Bella Hospital Medical Director Lt. Col. Berhanu Zenebe Metaferia, MD; and Ethiopia State Minister of Defense Ato Kassahun Dender
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Dr. Berhanu leads a tour of a lab that was
renovated with U.S. government funding (including PEPFAR and CDC)
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Dr. Berhanu shows guests some of the documents used in Bella Hospital's
voluntary counseling and testing work
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Dr. Mancuso, Ambassador Huddleston and
Dr. Damiba review charts that
illustrate Bella Hospital's achievements in HIV services
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Dr. Mancuso, Ambassador Huddleston and Dr. Berhanu, with members of the
Ethiopian media in the background
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Jhpiego/Ethiopia HIV/AIDS Advisor
Dr. Chandrakant Ruparelia welcomes
Ambassador Huddleston to a presentation on the prevention of
mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT)
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Dr. Berhanu presents data on Bella Hospital's work in PMTCT
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Jhpiego/Ethiopia Program Coordinator Ms. Marion McNabb, co-master of
ceremonies, with members of the delegation
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More photos on next page
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