X-ray machines from Eugene to improve clinic in Ethiopia

EUGENE, Ore. 8-17-2011 - Dr. Fikru Heramo sees up to 250 patients per day at a medical clinic in Ethiopia.When they need an x-ray, he has to send them to another clinic many miles away. “We don't have x-ray equipment, and having x-ray equipment in Ethiopia is tough,” said Heramo. That is all about to change. Heramo was in Eugene this week at Slocum Center. Slocum is donating their old x-ray machines to the Mother and Child Health Center in Shinshicho, Ethiopia, where Heramo is the medical director. Slocum is moving to digital x-ray. Instead of throwing away their machines, they will donate them to the clinic overseas. “We found that there was a child and mother clinic being constructed in Ethiopia that was in need of many resources including x-ray equipment which they never thought they would be able to purchase,” said Dr. Thomas Wuest of Slocum. Slocum worked with Holt International to donate the machines. Holt International is currently expanding and building additions to the Shinshicho Health Center. The x-ray machines will improve services at the clinic, Heramo said. “They'll be able to receive better treatments and better care, and definitely it’s an absolute necessity for the center,” he said. He expects the number of patients to increase after the x-ray machines arrive at his medical center. Slocum and Holt International will be sending the x-ray machines after the Shinshicho Health Center is finished with renovations.The expected date is early 2012.(http://www.kval.com)