AIDS orphans, Aduare District, Addis Ababa.
Executive Summary
Ethiopia Healthcare Network (EHN), a nonprofit focused on maternal and child healthcare, made its first grant to LeAlem Higher Clinic in October 2009. This report describes EHN Program Director Jim Wilson’s January 16-31, 2010, site visit to LeAlem. While in Addis Ababa, Wilson evaluated grant performance, interviewed and photographed patients, met with EHN/LeAlem partners, conducted beneficiary home visits, helped form new patient service agreements, and developed information for program expansion.
Wilson found that grant performance is exceeding expectations, serving as many as 200 patients each month (compared to a target level of 100 patients/month), and that the EHN/LeAlem program is solidly integrated with numerous community organizations. This strengthens program credibility and durability. Wilson also found that the program is operating efficiently, benefitting from parallel commercial operations and an efficient service model.
During the site visit, Wilson helped establish a patient referral agreement between Atetegeb Worku Memorial Childcare Association and identified areas for expanded collaboration with the Organization for Social Services for AIDS (OSSA). Specifically, OSSA, which had referred 65 patients to EHN/LeAlem prior to the site visit, could help EHN/LeAlem expand into other areas of Addis Ababa and rural areas of Ethiopia. OSSA has operations in 11 of Ethiopia’s 12 regions, and multiple facilities in Addis Ababa. While OSSA focuses on AIDS, EHN/LeAlem could provide maternal and child healthcare using the same or adjacent facilities and related infrastructure.
This report also describes the EHN/LeAlem operational model, addresses questions developed for the site visit by EHN’s Board, and provides 15 patient case studies and two organizational case studies. The questions delve into many key areas, ranging from patient care and medical practice, to matters of cost and organization. The case studies illustrate who EHN/LeAlem is caring for and our partner organizations.
Working with LeAlem’s Medical Director and staff, the site visit developed concepts for program expansion and near-term recommendations for action. Recommendations include continuation of the grant for the balance of calendar year 2010 (i.e., funding April – December 2010) at a higher patient volume and, longer term, work to expand the program by opening additional clinic programs in Addis Ababa and rural Ethiopia.