Sue and Jamie’s visit to Hospice Ethiopia in March 2o22 is detailed here.
2021 Annual Report
The 2021 Annual Report can be viewed here.
The Wolterton Hall Glitterati Ball
We are excited to announce that Wolterton Hall will open its doors this summer for a sparkling event called The Glitterati Ball. The Ball is on Saturday, June 11th and takes place in the main state rooms of the Hall, including the Venetian Room, the Saloon and the Portrait Room. A dazzling selection of entertainments is promised and guests will be treated to a champagne reception and a three course buffet dinner – all for just £65.
The Glitterati Ball is being held at Wolterton Hall by kind permission of owners Peter Sheppard and Keith Day. Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb is the patron of the event.
The evening will begin at 7.30pm with a glass or two of champagne or cordial. The entertainments include live music, with both a classical recital and a dance band, along with an auction of promises, a raffle, a photo booth and a wine bar. There’s also the chance for visitors to see some of the fascinating reconstruction work that Peter and Keith are undertaking in the building and grounds of this magnificent country mansion, once the home of the Walpole family.
“Glitter is the name of the game and we hope people will dress to impress,” says Sue Mumford, chair of Hospice Ethiopia UK. “The most sparkling outfit will win the wearer a bottle of bubbly!
Tickets are available online through Eventbrite.
Negasi’s Story
Negasi* was a 55-year old man living in a rented house with his wife and 7 year old daughter. He was referred by the Black Lion Hospital to Hospice Ethiopia with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal (back of the nose and throat) cancer. On the nurse’s first visit to Negasi, he was bed bound and in severe pain causing poor sleep; he was also unable to swallow due to the mass, and had a huge swollen wound on his face causing gross disfigurement with accompanying odour. He was unable to work resulting in serious socioeconomic problems. and his wife was unemployed.
The nurse from Hospice Ethiopia arranged for him to receive morphine and other medications for his pain. The team gave him nursing care for example mouth care and wound care, and provided medical supplies, and taught his wife how to care for him. In addition, the team provided him with food support and emotional support.
After this care was put in place, he was able to sleep with his pain and other symptoms controlled. The food support helped to relieve their immediate basic needs. As Negasi approached the end of his life, the input from the team increased providing additional support for his wife as she struggled to cope with her husband’s deterioration and care for their daughter. Negasi died three months after the Hospice Ethiopia team became involved in his care. The nurses are providing ongoing bereavement support for the family.
*Not his real name.
Get ready for Christmas 2021!
We have 2 beautiful designs for Christmas cards for 2021. First, a new design with mistletoe and second, some more of the hugely popular wren design from last year. Both designs are exclusive to Hospice Ethiopia by linocut printmaker Alice Roberts. Cards in packs of 10 remain priced at £4 per pack and are available from Marion (celia.bryce@btinternet.com), Sue (info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk) or the pop up Christmas card shop at St Peter Mancroft church, Norwich (from 19/10/21).
We also have 2022 calendars for sale. Each month has a stunning photograph of Ethiopian landscapes, animals or people. These are only available from Hospice Ethiopia UK, priced at £10 + P&P. Please contact Sue (info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk).
The Big Give 2021
Many of you have generously made donations in the past that have helped provide crucial care for patients. We’re very excited to let you know that Hospice Ethiopia UK has been selected again this year to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021, the UK’s largest match funding campaign.
We will be raising money specifically to pay for the development of the palliative care service at one of the largest public hospitals in Ethiopia. The project will target St Paul’s Hospital Oncology and Emergency Departments where palliative care is desperately needed. 50 key personnel will be trained at this large teaching hospital. This follows on from the successful development of an Ethiopian standardised palliative care training course in 2020, developed jointly by HE with the Federal Ministry Of Health (Big Give 2020 project).
If successful it is hoped this project will be repeated in other public hospitals thereby improving palliative care across Ethiopia.
Donations to this project will be matched for 7 days, from 12pm on Tuesday 30th November. So, every pound donated during that period means two pounds for Hospice Ethiopia.
How do I donate?
If you would like to support our work this year, we highly recommend doing so during the Christmas Challenge when your donation will make even more of a difference to Hospice Ethiopia.
After 12 noon on the 30th November, please visit our page at the biggive.org and follow the instructions. Please note that donations made via other means will not be matched, so it’s really important to go through the ‘big give’ website.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk
Finally, please pass on this message to anyone who you think might be interested in supporting us and having their donation doubled.
Successful charity day at Mannington
On Sunday 5th September there was a magnificent turnout for the Mannington Hall Charity Day, near Aylsham. More than 1000 people came to enjoy the lovely house and grounds, at the invitation of Lady Walpole.
A programme of 12 attractions and entertainments included china smashing, displays of Morris dancing, dog agility, birds of prey, children’s activities and also over twenty five craft stalls. The grounds also played host to a number of Lady Walpole’s invited charities and the musical entertainment from a variety of groups provided a relaxed ambiance for all to enjoy. The café was run by volunteers from Lincolnshire who treated us to a delicious variety of tasty foods. They also provided delicious hampers, which were delivered to the picnic area by the VIP Picnic Butler, from Cornwall.
Judging by the number of comments proffered, the day was very well received by everyone. “Thank you and the team for a lovely day” commented one crafter. “What a special charity to support those with terminal illness in a developing country. An oasis of humanity.” Commented a member of the ceilidh band.
Special thanks to the hardworking team of volunteers; we could not do this without you! The income for the day, a staggering £9,233, will go a long way to provide the end of life nursing care for the increasing number of the patients seen by Hospice Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Thank you so much to all who helped make this such a successful day!
update on the big give christmas challenge 2020
Many of our supporters generously donated to our Big Give Project last December. £9,500 was raised to design a standardised palliative care training course that could be delivered across Ethiopia to a range of Health Care Professionals.
We started our project early in January 2021 but nonetheless have not been able to complete the project yet due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing difficult political situation in Ethiopia.
Ephrem Abathun (Director of Hospice Ethiopia) has worked with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and other stake holders to design the palliative care course and accompanying course material. This has been formally approved by the FMOH.
The training manual and accompanying material has now been printed. A zoom meeting is planned between Hospice Ethiopia, Hospice Ethiopia UK, and Palliative Care Works to take the project further.
A pilot course is scheduled to be run in December 2021. Staff from the Simien Mountain Mobile Medical service will attend a 6 day course in Debark. It is hoped 2 trustees from Hospice Ethiopia UK will assist nurses from Hospice Ethiopia in delivering this training.
Following the pilot course, both the trainers and delegates will evaluate the course and adaptions will be made accordingly, with help from the English charity, Palliative Care Works.
Many thanks again for your generous donations.
aisha’s story
Aisha* was a 40-year-old woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She was divorced and lived with her son and daughter. Her illness progressed rapidly and she developed a fungating breast wound. She refused all treatments for her cancer and preferred to use holy water. Aisha used to work as a prostitute but could no longer earn money this way. Her children worked as daily labourers but they did not earn enough to cover their daily living costs and their mother’s medical care costs.
Aisha was distressed by her breast pain, fatigue, constipation, bed sore and her breast wound when the hospice team met her. She was also sad, anxious and ashamed of the odour from her breast wound
The Hospice Ethiopia team provided her with advice and medication for her pain and other symptoms. They cared for her wounds and provided wound care supplies such as gauze, cleaning solution and gloves along with a small monthly sum of money from the Comfort Fund. The nurse taught Aisha and her children how to care for her wounds at home. Furthermore, the nurse provided emotional support and reassured her that Hospice Ethiopia would keep providing the care to the end of her life. This care and support helped Aisha to have comfortable days, maintain her dignity and feel much better. Her symptoms were managed, the smell from the wound was controlled. Aisha died with dignity and relief a few weeks later.
*Not her real name
mannington hall charity day
Hospice Ethiopia UK 