Leading African medical expert comes to North Norfolk

Director of Ethiopia’s only hospice will discuss his team’s inspirational work

One of Africa’s leading palliative care experts is coming to Norfolk to give a talk on his fascinating and vital work.  Ephrem Abathun is Director of Hospice Ethiopia, the Addis Ababa-based hospice that not only looks after hundreds of desperate people in the region, but also trains medics from across sub-Sahara Africa.   The talk will take place on Saturday 7th September, 12-2pm, at St John’s Catholic Church, White Hart Street, Aylsham, NR11 6HG.  Attendance is free but donations will be welcomed.  A buffet lunch will be provided.

Ephrem is in the UK to attend training at the University of Surrey in Guildford and is taking time out from his busy schedule to come to Aylsham, at the invitation of Norfolk-based charity Hospice Ethiopia UK, which raises funds for the hospice.

Sue Mumford is chair of the charity.  “Hospice Ethiopia receives no funds from the Ethiopian government, it can only survive through donations from the West,” she says.  “In recent years the people of Norfolk have responded to the heart-breaking and inspirational work it does and have been incredibly generous with their support for the hospice.  Ephrem and his team are hugely grateful, and he was delighted to have the opportunity to come here to tell Norfolk people about the work their generosity has funded.”

Ethiopia has a population of over 100 million people, but only one hospice.  “This is why the work is so vital – there are tens of thousands of desperate people in the country, people who are dying in pain and whose families are in huge difficulties,” says Sue.  “Hospice Ethiopia provides medical aid, financial aid and emotional and spiritual support.  Even more important is its educational work, which has seen hundreds of medics learn about palliative care, so they can help ease the suffering of people across the region.”

While he’s in Norfolk Ephrem will be visiting Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich to see palliative care (aka care of the dying, or symptom control for the terminally ill) as practised in Norfolk.

Ephrem’s talk on Saturday 7th September, 12-2pm, at St John’s Catholic Church, White Hart Street, Aylsham, NR11 6HG is open to all.

To find out more visit www.hospiceethiopia.org.uk, email info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk or call Clare Glenn, who is a Hospice Ethiopia UK trustee, on 01263 734853.

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More information:

Tim Morgan, The Publicity Works – tim@publicityworks.biz / 01263 761000

Sue Mumford, Hospice Ethiopia UK – info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk / 01263 768699