Addis Ababa – The Embassy of Israel congratulates six Ethiopian citizens working hard to give dignity and hope to their people. The six have made admirable accomplishments working in cooperation with Israeli organizations and have had unique Israeli experience in doing so. The Jerusalem Prize went to:
• Dr. Ahmed Reja
• Dr. Bogalech Gebre
• Prof. Redda Haimanot
• Ms. Siddise Buli
• Ms. Hanna Girma
• Dr. Yirga Gebregziabher
A double celebration, honoring our guests and the Jewish New Year, took place on September 21st at the Ambassador's residence.
On eve of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), our Embassy congratulated Dr. Ahmed Reja, from Black Lion Hospital of the Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, for winning the Jerusalem Prize. Our Deputy Chief of Mission, Leo Vinovezky, handed the Jerusalem Prize to Dr. Ahmed Reja for his inspiring work saving the hearts and the lives of many children in Ethiopia in full cooperation with the Israeli Save A Child's Heart (SACH) humanitarian organization, working together to save the lives of Ethiopian children. Recently these two institutions signed a MOU to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for Ethiopian children.
DCM Leo Vinovezky with Dr. Ahmed
As well, our Embassy congratulated Prof. Redda Tekle Haimanot, for winning the Jerusalem Prize. Prof. Redda studied medicine for six years at the Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, graduated in 1967 with MD degree. He later created an inspiring partnership with Dr. Udi Katzenel from Kaplan Hospital in Israel establishing an NGO named Grarbet Tehadiso Mahber to cater for persons with physical disabilities, epilepsy, visually impaired, etc. Dr. Udi Katzenel regularly visits Grarbet to perform surgery and conduct capacity building projects. Over the last sixteen years, the NGO’s work has grown significantly, operates in ten Woredas with a total population of 2 million in the Oromia and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples regional states.
(Left to right) Prof. Redda Teke Haimanot, Monica Manaker, Dr. Udi Katzenel, Leo Vinovezky at GrarBet Hospital
Similarly, our Embassy extended its pleasure to hand the Jerusalem Prize to Mrs. Sidisse Buli, Director of AHOPE Ethiopia –– an Ethiopian charity organization which pioneered the provision of specialized care to destitute HIV positive orphans and vulnerable children and families.
Sidisse has been working for many years with Prof. Daniel Engelhard from Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel, in full cooperation with ART-Joy-Love which is a volunteering program in orphanages in Ethiopia and Uganda. While the ‘ART’ of ART-Joy-Love initially designated the anti-retroviral therapy administered for AIDS, the wellbeing of orphaned HIV-positive children has led to restore the original meaning to ART, focusing on the development of art skills of talented youngsters as well. Artistic and musical workshops have been presented in different occasions with the assistance and guidance from our Embassy’s Cultural Affairs department.
Ambassador Belaynesh and her Deputy Leo with Mrs. Sidisse Buli and Ato Mengesha Shibru from AHOPE Ethiopia
The Embassy of Israel to Ethiopia also congratulated Dr. Bogalech Gebre giving her the Jerusalem Prize for her active work to end the harmful traditional practices of female genital mutilation (FGM) mostly prevalent in rural Ethiopia. Bogalech and her sister Fikrte Gebre founded in 1997 an indigenous Resident Charity Organization – KMG-Ethiopia – aiming to help create an environment where the values and rights of women are recognized and their talents and wisdom are nurtured with the belief that if women are empowered and their talents nurtured, the lives of both men and women would improve. KMG-Ethiopia’s effort began in the region of Kembatta-Tembaro (Alaba Zone). Currently KMG operates in 24 of Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Regional State (SNNPRS) and Oromia district reaching out to more than 481,289 direct and 2,859,500 indirect beneficiaries, 70% of whom are women.
Dr. Bogalech studied Microbiology in Israel during the '70's.
(Above) Dr. Bogalech Gebre with DCM Leo; (Below) with Amb. Belaynesh
This year’s Jerusalem Prize other awardee is Dr. Yirga Gebregziabher from NALA Foundation (an Israeli non-profit organization fighting against Tropical Diseases and AIDS). Representing OSSA-Tigray (NALA's partner organization in Ethiopia), Dr. Yirga and Mr.Ben Katzir, said on the occasion that this event signifies a generous gesture on our Embassy’s part in partnering with NALA's team in Ethiopia and Israel to further reinforce the joint Health Education Program in Tigray.
NALA Foundation – the executive arm of the Center for Tropical Diseases and AIDS (CEMTA) of Israel's Ben Gurion University – has initiated a comprehensive program for eradication of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) from Ethiopia. This program combines mass drug administration with health education and water sanitation and hygiene, following repeated surveys in the treated population before and after intervention.
NALA Foundation, which also serves as a sub-contractor implementer for infectious disease control programs in Africa, was established by Prof. Zvi Bentwich and Dr Leslie Lobel.
(Above) Ambassador Belaynesh with Dr. Yirga and Ben Karzir;
(Below) Dr. Yirga and DCM Leo Vinovezky