ReachAnother Foundation

🌍 Dr. Nebiyat, ReachAnother’s Technical Director, was invited by GAIN to attend the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

He spent last week listening, learning, and speaking up for prevention; the idea that we shouldn’t only treat spina bifida and hydrocephalus after birth, but also prevent as many cases as we can through folic acid and food fortification.

This kind of advocacy matters because it connects the work happening in Ethiopian hospitals to the policy conversations that shape maternal and child health worldwide. 🤝

🏥 What happens in the first few hours after birth can make a huge difference. With the progress and equipment these hospitals have, many newborns were able to receive surgery within that early window—something that hasn’t always been possible. ❤️

Yesterday, we celebrated the handover of three new neurosurgical microscopes to teaching hospitals: Gondar, Gondar University Hospital, TibebeGihon Specialized Hospital, and Hiwotfana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, alongside leaders from Ethiopia’s health system.

These microscopes will help neurosurgical teams work with greater precision and confidence. They will bring advanced care closer to families who too often have had to travel far for treatment for their children. 💛

We are grateful to The Helmsley Charitable Trust and to the hospital and government partners who made this possible. Moments like this are a reminder that progress is built through steady, practical investments that strengthen Ethiopia’s own capacity to care for children and families. 🙌

On the evening of May 16th, in Addis Ababa, ReachAnother Foundation and the Alliance for Birth Defects hosted our very first Fundraising & Friendship Gala and what an unforgettable evening it turned out to be!

We went into the night with hope, excitement, and honestly, a lot of curiosity about what this new kind of event could become in Ethiopia. What we experienced exceeded every expectation.

The room was filled with friends, partners, sponsors, volunteers, healthcare professionals, families impacted by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and people who simply believe in building a better future for children. From the marketplace and photo booth to the auction, dessert dash, music, laughter, and celebration, the energy in the room was incredible.🙏

More than anything, the evening felt like a powerful reminder that this work belongs to a growing community of people who care deeply about prevention, treatment, aftercare, and dignity for children and families affected by neural tube defects and other birth defects in Ethiopia.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, volunteered, sponsored, donated, celebrated, and believed in this vision from the very beginning.

We are deeply grateful and incredibly proud.♥️

We were proud to sponsor the 8th Annual Society of Ethiopian Neurosurgical Surgery Professionals meeting, which wrapped up today.👏

More than 100 neurosurgeons came together from across Ethiopia, alongside guest speakers from around the world to share knowledge and exchange ideas.

We were especially glad to see our Country Director, Yakob, present on ReachAnother’s investment in pediatric neurosurgery in Ethiopia, followed by a thoughtful panel discussion on the next step: building a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship training program in Ethiopia.

Prevention starts long before the hospital.

In just a few short months so far this year, ReachAnother has led 170 health education sessions, equipping families with life-saving knowledge on nutrition, folic acid, and maternal care.❣️

Knowledge is one of the most powerful forms of care.

Happy Mother’s Day. 💛

Today, we’re recognizing the care, strength, and dedication of mothers everywhere—especially those supporting children through complex medical journeys.

As we are getting closer to ReachAnother’s first-ever Gala in Addis Ababa, we’re continuing to work toward our $10,000 goal to support programs serving children and families impacted by neural tube defects.

Every gift is a way to stand alongside mothers, caregivers, and care teams in Ethiopia. https://reachanother.org/donate/

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This Mother’s Day, show up for moms everywhere. 💛

Our goal is to raise $10,000 by May 16 in support of ReachAnother’s first-ever Gala in Addis Ababa. The event, organized in partnership with the Alliance For Birth Defect, is an important step toward growing local leadership and building a more sustainable future for children and families impacted by neural tube defects.

Every gift is a sign of love, encouragement, and solidarity with children, mothers, and care teams in Ethiopia.

Give today: https://loom.ly/KM_D5E8

It’s hard to believe that the Zewditu Pediatric Neurosurgery Center has been open for over a year!
In just the past year, the Center recorded:
✨ 708 surgeries
✨ 4,580 outpatient visits
✨ 1,614 CT scans

As Ethiopia’s first Pediatric Neurosurgery Center of Excellence, Zewditu is becoming exactly what it was meant to be: a place of healing and hope for children and families and a training hub for medical professionals.

We’re deeply grateful to Helmsley Charitable Trust, whose support made this Center possible.