Our Medical Missions
We run 4–5 medical missions a year, to address the pressing eyecare needs of Ethiopia’s most destitute villagers.
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To date, our medical missions have allowed us to help tens of thousands of Ethiopians get essential eyecare. In many cases, this means restoring eyesight to people who’ve become completely blind due to obstructive cataracts.
Even with the war going on in Israel and a civil war in Ethiopia, we’ve found ways to continue our important work in Ethiopia.
Here are some of our recent past missions:
“Your work is showing the people of Ethiopia the best face of Israel and bringing to life the deep and warm connection that people feel exists between our two countries.”
September 2024 Medical Mission
Dr. Morris Hartstein and Dr. Shirin Hamad Azzez from Israel, together with three Ethiopian ophthalmologists trained by Operation Ethiopia in Israel, ran a DCR (tear-duct bypass) surgery campaign in the village of Dessie Ethiopia at Boru-Meda Hospital.
Our incredible team operated on 149 adult and pediatric patients who had been suffering from advanced dacryocystitis for years. It was gratifying to provide free surgeries to people who had been unable to afford them for years.
We were touched by an end of campaign “thank you” ceremony by the hospital staff. We look forward to expanding our cooperation with Boru-Meda hospital to help more people who otherwise are unable to get needed surgical treatment.
August 2024 Medical Mission
Our team of four Israeli volunteers, including three ophthalmologists, joined with three local Ethiopian volunteers in Addis Ababa. Together, we treated over 500 patients at Mobile Eyecare Clinics in the Addis Ababa Jewish community and the Mother Teresa Mission of Charity.
Our doctors consulted on complicated cases in the ophthalmic clinic at St. Paul’s Millinium Medical Center, and were honored to have a press team stop by the hospital to film our work, which was featured on Ethiopian TV and in the Ethiopian Herald Daily.
Our Israeli team continued on to Mekelle, in the Tigray region, where Operation Ethiopia restored eyesight to 500 people blinded by dense cataracts. We visited IDP (Internal Displaced Persons) camps that house thousands of families displaced by the Ethiopian civil war, treating patients in a Mobile Eyecare Clinic, and meeting with the organizers to plan how to expand our work in the IDP camps during our upcoming November medical mission.
July 2023 Medical Mission
Our amazing Israeli volunteer team ran Mobile Eyecare clinics in and around Gondar, Ethiopia, in the villages of Azzezo, Tedda, Kola Diba, Maksegint, and the Gondar Jewish compound. We treated 1924 patients in just one week!
We screened patients for glaucoma, cataracts, other eye diseases, and distributed medications and hundreds of pairs of eyeglasses to people who lack access to doctors and medical care. Our medics ran CPR and first aid training sessions for 60 medical staff at the University of Gondar Hospital, and our team participated in our Cataract Campaign, where we restored eyesight to 400 people blinded by dense cataracts.
Help make our work possible
Your support makes our work possible. A small donation of just $120 allows us to treat 10 patients in our Mobile Eyecare Clinics.
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