Dinner salutes Dr. Hodes' work with Ethiopian kids

http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_17121147

By Joanne Davidson
The Denver Post

It was a real gamble, in this economy, to add one more event to Denver's already crowded fundraising scene, especially one where the least expensive ticket was $250 and the money would go to a medical mission half a world away.

RestaurateurNoel Cunninghamis used to taking chances, though, and in his heart he felt that his friends and customers would come through, opening their hearts and pocketbooks to hit the $500,000 goal he and co-chairsElaine Gantz BermanandJennifer Kraftset for the inaugural Dinner of Unconditional Love.

The event would honor Dr.Rick Hodes,and the money raised would support his work at the Mother Teresa Mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For the past 20 years, Hodes, medical director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has treated Ethiopian children with congenital and rheumatic heart disease, spine disease and cancer — youngsters who otherwise most likely would have died.

Hodes, who was at the dinner with two of the five Ethiopian children he has adopted, was saluted by the JDC's executive vice president,Steve Schwager; Marilyn Berger,whose book, "This Is a Soul," describes his work in one of the world's poorest countries; and Regis University PresidentMichael Sheeran,who conferred an honorary doctorate of humanitarian medicine degree on him.

RabbiSteven Fosterrecently spent two days with Hodes in Ethiopia, an experience he said vividly illustrated the Jewish mystical concept that at all times there are 36 "righteous souls" in the world and were it not for them the world would come to an end. "Nobody knows who they are, but I believe — no, I know — that two of them are right here in this room tonight: Dr. Rick Hodes and Noel Cunningham. Their dedication is unbelievable."

Find out who was at the dinner, and learn more about the contributions that Hodes, Noel and Tammy Cunningham and the JDC have made in Ethiopiaby logging onto my Seen First blog:blogs.denverpost.com/davidson.

Solomon Gobaw, left, Danny Ameha, Dejene Hodes and, in front, Mesfin Hodes

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 orjdavidson@denverpost.com; also,blogs.denverpost.com/davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter

Ann Wilcox, left, Barbara Hughesand Faye Ganley wear some of the handcrafted scarves that were sold at the dinner.

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AfricaNews - Is WHO’s estimate on Ethiopia correct? - The AfricaNews articles of Addis Man

AfricaNews - Is WHO’s estimate on Ethiopia correct? - The AfricaNews articles of Addis Man

Ethiopia has undertaken a nationwide population based TB prevalence survey that aims at determining the true epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the case detection rate of TB remained unacceptably low and steady about 34% and WHO’s annual estimates for Ethiopia, erratically jumped from 152 to 168 per 100,000 populations in 2008 only. This made the Ministry question the correctness and reliability of the estimates by the WHO. Eventually deciding to conduct a nationwide population based TB prevalence survey.

The Ministry considers its TB program to be a great achievement in its health sector and is determined to prove World Health Organization’s estimate to be inaccurate. The Ministry hopes to adjust the incidence, prevalence and other targets based on the findings.

The survey covers a total of 85 clusters (kebels), which is believed to represent rural/agrarian, pastoralist and urban communities have been randomly selected for the survey. It includes interviews, physical examination of cervical lymphadenitis, chest x-ray and collection of sputum samples from pulmonary TB suspects, covering about 47,000 participants in the country.

All identified cases during the survey, will receive proper treatment, free of charge, according to the national protocol. More than 60 professionals from different disciplines make up the Survey Team. Global Fund and other partner organizations in country will provide financial as well as technical support towards the completion of the nationwide survey.

The survey enables to know the status of the country towards of the MDG particularly in TB too. The survey has been started since September 2010 and ends June 2011.

Varnero to construct National Insurance Company of Ethiopia headquarters

By Binyam Tamene

Tuesday, 04 January 2011 00:00

Varnero Construction Plc has beaten major construction companies in the country to build a 12-floor-long headquarters of the National Insurance Company of Ethiopia (NICE) in the heart of Addis Ababa. Construction companies including Midroc, Teklebrhan Ambaye, DMC, Akir were competing to construct the headquarters, which will be built adjacent to Tewodros Square on Churchill Road. Nevertheless, NICE has given the go ahead to Varnero Construction last week to construct its headquarters which is expected to commence within one-and-half months and be completed in two years. NICE claims they have already secured the land from the Addis Ababa Administration over ten years ago. The company dismisses the report that it is constructing the building following the AA Administration’s warning for anyone with land in their possession for too long to construct soon or else give it back. The reason for the delay is mainly due to a court wrangle with the previous administration that claims the land belongs to Local Development Plan, not for other purposes. “We are now given the license to construct, with the current city management giving us the green light,” said Tewodros Bogale, Deputy Manager of NICE. “With the design of the building already completed, we expected the company to start construction in the next one or two months,” said Tewodros. The design of the building includes three basement floors, a ground floor on the top with twelve floors for office and commercial activities. Out of the total 17,130 square meter of  floor area, 15,407 square meters will be available for rent. The construction could cost NICE an estimated 141 million birr with the first phase of erecting a construction structure expected to cost 80 million birr. But, the general manager said the finishing cost could rise up to 60 million, “which will take the total to more than 141 million”. The company said it’s now negotiating  to put various financial institutions for financial arrangements to cover the cost but refused to mention the type of arrangement they are dealing with. However, the insurance company also said, though the building venture has proven to be a lucrative business, the cost of initial investment could accommodate more shareholders, which should encourage other investors to join the company by buying shares. http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/04/varnero-to-construct-national-insurance-company-of-ethiopia-headquarters

Run Across Ethiopia Expedition Sets Off

by Brody O'Connell

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\home\lists\search&id=561893

TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- On The Ground (OTG) is pleased to announce that the Michigan based nonprofit sets in motion its Run Across Ethiopia (RAE) expedition during the first week of January 2011.  Monday January 3rd, the organization’s advance team leaves Traverse City for Addis Ababa.  Two days later on Wednesday January 5th, the second wave of participants heads across the Atlantic, including ten runners preparing for their 250+ mile run from Addis Ababa to Yirgacheffe, raising money and awareness for education needs.

The team will spend several days in Addis Ababa acclimating their bodies to the 8500’ elevation and equatorial climate.  On Friday January 9th, the team will rise at dawn and take their first steps on their 250 mile running expedition.  OTG plans on providing up to the minute reporting via our website, blogs, Twitter feed, and other sources.  They will also provide a special feed for media outlets looking to cover the event.

The RAE team, made up of endurance athletes representing four U.S. communities including northwest Michigan (6 runners) central Ohio (1 runner), Charleston, South Carolina (2 runners), and Houston, Texas (one runner).  Among the team are northern Michigan business leaders, corporate CEOs, financial experts, language professionals, a recent college graduate, a police officer, and a fitness guru.  What they have in common is a passion for running and for making the world a better place for less fortunate people.

The team has been coached by world famous ultra endurance athlete Ray Zahab, who was featured in the documentary Running the Sahara.  Ray has helped the team prepare themselves by designing a rigorous training regimen, making recommendations for nutrition and recovery, but perhaps most importantly making key suggestions for how the team interacts with each other during their 250 + mile event.  “One of the most important things you’ll do is to develop strong relationships with your team before you leave,” said Zahab.  He also added one of his more famous quotes, “The challenge is believing that overcoming obstacles is 90% mental, and the other 10% is all in your heads.” 

The team, led by Michigan entrepreneurs Chris Treter and Timothy Young, starts running on Friday January 9th.  Treter, Young, and the rest of the team will be reporting back several times each day to On The Ground headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan.  OTG will be hosting a special webpage, “RAE LIVE”, with up to the minute reports from Ethiopia as they become available. www.runacrossethiopia.org   Part-way through their expedition the team will be joined by family members including four school children from northwest Michigan.  These children will be collecting their own stories and reporting back to school kids at home with blog posts, video diaries, and Skype broadcasts. 

Each of the ten runners on the team were required to raise $15,000 in cash to help build the three schools with OTG’s partner agencies in Ethiopia.  At this date all indications are that the organization will make its $175,000 goal by the end of January 2011.  Dena Piecuch, RAE team member and Charleston, SC police officer, says “Raising such a large sum of money for such a great cause, by running across Ethiopia, is an experience that will make so many other things in life seem insignificant. To say you have been apart of something that is so much bigger then yourself, is a humbling feeling.”

I love Sunday's!

So today has been a good day. We went to church this morning and then went to my mom's house to watch the Bucs game with my bro (Bucs won!!!!). Now me and Kim are relaxing watch a football game. Life is good!

Great Podcast

Check out West Coast Church of the Cross,
our church in Sarasota's podcast http://www.buzzsprout.com/1671