TDVA’s Mekelle Ortho-Physiotherapy Center Celebrates 9-Month Milestone in Serving War Wounded
Mekelle, Ethiopia – June 30, 2024

The Mekelle Ortho-Physiotherapy Center, Tigray’s primary rehabilitation facility for war casualties, has dramatically reduced service wait times from 2+ years to just 9 months through an intensive recovery initiative, as celebrated at a recognition ceremony today.

Key Achievements

⚡ Service Acceleration:

• Cut 24+ month backlog to 9 months through:
  • Expanded partnerships with ICRS and local communities
  • Streamlined prosthetic production
  • Mobile clinics reaching Afar & N. Amhara border areas

🩺 Genocide Response:

• Treated 1,200+ new amputees since November 2023
• Prioritized victims of targeted limb violence

Ceremony Highlights

🏅 Awards Presented To:

• Tigray Interim Government leaders
• ICRS collaborators
• TDVA’s Veteran-Staffed Prosthetics Team

🗣️ Keynote by Ato Aberhale Abraha (TDVA Board Member):
“Where hospitals failed, this center became Tigray’s lifeline – each prosthetic is an act of resistance against genocide.”

Ongoing Challenges

⚠️ Current Needs:

• 3,800+ veterans still awaiting care
• 40% increase in pediatric cases (landmine victims)