TIKA Put a Smile on the Faces of Ethiopian Children with Leukemia

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) provided aid to the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service of Tikur Anbessa Hospital and put a smile on the faces of children by distributing presents.

TIKA provided aid to the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service of Tikur Anbessa Hospital, located in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, by donating wheelchairs, beds, and hospital supplies.   During a ceremony held for the distribution of supplies, Burak Özden, TIKA’s Deputy Office Coordinator for Addis Ababa, expressed that they were very happy to see the smiles on the faces of the children in the hospital.

Özden also stated that in the last six years, TIKA carried out activities to improve the conditions of 360 health centers and that this project was the first collaboration with a hospital but would not be the last.  Özden said, “TIKA is ready to improve the conditions of other departments of the hospital, as well.”

70,000 children with leukemia

The Clinic’s Service Director Dr.  Yirgu Gebrehiwot, who also spoke at the ceremony, expressed that there were very few centers that could treat leukemia patients in the country and added that 70,000 children were suffering from this disease.  Gebrehiwot stated that they hoped TIKA would offer further support in future projects for the treatment of children with leukemia.

Only two centers for children with leukemia

During the ceremony, the families of the children who took part in the distribution of aid expressed that they experienced great hardships, and thanked TIKA for their contributions.   One parent, Addis Tefera, stated that they came to this hospital for the treatment of their 7-year-old daughter and said, “They amputated one of my daughter’s legs, but we’re thankful that she is still alive.”

After completing the delivery of the supplies to the hospital, which is one of the two health centers that provide services for the treatment of children with leukemia in Ethiopia, TIKA distributed various gifts and toys to the children.

“We hope to see the Turkish health industry in Ethiopia”

Turkey’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa, Fatih Ulusoy, expressed that efforts to strengthen the collaboration between Turkey and Ethiopia in the health industry had been accelerated since the previous year.  Ulusoy said, “During my meeting with the Minister of Health of Ethiopia, the minister expressed that he hoped to see more Turkish supplies and medicines in Ethiopia. I would also like to express that I hope to see more companies that operate in this industry in Ethiopia.”