We are finalists in the GlobalGiving photo contest 2021!
We're delighted to announce that one of our photos has been selected as a finalist in the Global Giving photo contest 2021!
*Voting is now closed*
We want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in the contest.
About the photo
This has to be one of our favourite photographs of what was a very difficult 2020, for all of us. Taken by our Executive Director and Country Head, Amanuel Tafese in October 2020, the photos shows Emabat holding her young son Abdi before receiving his cleft lip surgery.
When Abdi was born we were very shocked and I faced stigma from others in my community. We were also not aware of the treatment option for a cleft lip and palate.
We are so happy that Abdi is now treated, thank you.
This photo is really special to us, as for our organisation it signifies the joy we felt when we were able to re-launch our access-to-cleft services.
Due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic elective surgery was placed on hold between March and October 2020, across Ethiopia. This meant that we were unable to provide access to surgery for the hundreds of children who were waiting. As you may know, receiving cleft treatment in the early years is essential to child development, in rural Ethiopia this is extremely important as there are often added barriers to child development, such as insecure food environment, making it harder for a child to receive an adequate nutritional intake. Because of superstition and sometimes limited health information there is also stigma attached to cleft conditions, this can result in a child and their family becoming isolated from their community, often children will not attend school or have to drop out because of bullying.
Luckily, during the pause in elective surgery we were able to utilise our outreach network to deliver practical Covid response measures to families who were waiting to access our services. In October 2020 we were able to re-introduce our access to cleft surgery programme to incorporate Covid prevention measures, such as Covid testing, providing PPE and mobilising patients in smaller groups to allow for social distancing.
About the photographer
Amanuel joined Project Harar Ethiopia as Executive Director and Country Head in 2018, he has had an extensive career in International Development and is passionate about Public Health.
Over the past 18 months Amanuel has been focussed on adapting our programmes to cater to a new health environment, with the emergence of the Covid-19 Pandemic, so that we are able to continue providing access to life changing surgery and comprehensive cleft care services for people living in rural Ethiopia.Amanuel captured this amazing photograph of Emabat and her son Abdi in October 2020 whilst overseeing a mobilisation programme, we are delighted that the photo has reached the final of the GlobalGiving photo contest!