Meet Some of Our Valued Volunteers

Dr. Zewde has been serving the department as a consultant neurologist providing medical service to a number of patients referred with neurological problems to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), the largest tertiary-level referral teaching hospital and the only neurology training center in Ethiopia. He also teaches and mentors undergraduate medical students and graduate students in neurology and internal medicine.  Additionally, he is leading and participating in several community-based and institutional researches in collaboration with local and international partnership with a handful of publications in peer reviewed international journals. He has a keen research interest in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Seven years ago, Dr. Zewde got the chance to meet Mrs. Kibra Kebede, the “Iron Lady” who single handedly founded the only PD patient support and Parkinson advocacy organization in 2011, Parkinson’s Patients Support Organization-Ethiopia (PPSO-E). Although Mrs. Kibra suffers from PD, she left her comfortable life in Norway and made a lifetime commitment to support the marginalized Ethiopian PD patients and address the knowledge gap towards PD in the country. Dr. Zewede notes,

“When I heard her story, I was inspired by her dedication and passion to live for other. Then I made a self-commitment to back her vision through PPSO-E, which envisions a quality life for Ethiopian PD patients. Later, I have also learned there was a huge knowledge gap towards PD among patients, their families, the general public and government officials, which in turn leads to social stigma, discrimination, diagnostic delays, treatment gaps and lack of local researches and data in the area.”

Since then, he has been volunteering in the organization and providing regular clinical trainings for general practitioners and other health professionals practicing in government and private health institution. He also made a home visit and telemedicine consultation for homebound advanced stage PD patients and patients outside of Addis Ababa with poor access to specialist care. So far, he has been widely engaged in public awareness creation programs via mainstream and social medias. Also, I am representing the Association of Ethiopian Neurologists (AEN) and working closely with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, Mental, Neurological and Substance use (MNS) case team to develop public education materials for PD and other neurological NCDs with public health importance in the nation. And last,, he is engaged in several molecular, epidemiological and clinical researches to better understand PD among Ethiopians.

Dawit his wife are the founders of Wudassie Diagnostic Center (WDC). Dawit was introduced to Parkinson Patient Support Organization – Ethiopia (PPSO-E) through his sister, Tsega Hailu Orcutt. Since 2017, he and his wife were given the opportunity to financially contribute to the organization to support patients improve their quality of life. WDC provides both imaging, such as MRI, CT scan Digital X-ray, Ultrasound, and EKG and laboratory diagnostic services.  In WDC, one of our missions is to carry out our Corporate Social Responsibility. Therefore, partnering with PPSO-E and neurologists, we offer free diagnostic services for patients with Parkinson’s Disease who are members of PPSO-E.

Mrs. Orcutt lives in Minnesota, Unites States where she is a nurse practitioner who specializes in neurology, movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD).

She was introduced to Kibra Kebede, the founder of Parkinson Patient Support Organization – Ethiopia (PPSO-E), at the end of 2016 through a mutual acquaintance.  Tsega says, “When I learned about the organization she established and all the work she did, I was amazed. I learned that PPSO-E was preparing for an awareness walk in April 2017; therefore, I reached out to Kibra and suggested that we raise money for the organization as part of the awareness walk.”  She offered to help in any way she could and told her that she would like to join them for the walk. Kibra thought she was just being kind and did not think that she would put the effort to do fundraising or travel to Ethiopia for PPSO-E’s event. After sending her a couple of emails and not hearing back from her surprised her so she contacted her two sisters in Ethiopia to call Kibra and urge her to submit the fundraising proposal to Global Giving. After Kibra heard from her sisters, she believed her offer was sincere and that meant Tsega meant what she said. She has been working with PPSO-E since then.

In April 2017, Mrs. Orcutt traveled to Ethiopia and was able to attend the PD Awareness Walk joining the PPSO-E’s team, patients with PD, their families, her families and friends, representatives from the Ministry of Health, reporters from TV and Radio stations, a marching band, and many others. She sent an email to her family, friends, and coworkers to donate money to support PPSO-E through Global Giving. I She was able to travel back for the PD walk and fundraising every year since then, except for 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her visit in 2019 was exceptionally touching and rewarding as she visited patients and their families/caregivers in their homes. It was a humbling experience. Sharing my knowledge about PD, educating about various symptoms that patients were experiencing, and providing some intervention that they could do was an unforgettable experience. It was heartbreaking at the same time, rewarding. In the United States, there are many resources available for patients and caregivers. Some examples are medication options, various therapies like physical therapy and speech therapy, medical devices like walkers and grants. So, she had to be creative in making recommendations to fit the Ethiopian culture and various barriers hindering patients and caregivers from living a quality life.

It is a privilege to work with PPSO-E. Tsega notes that, “Sometimes I feel discouraged that what I am doing compared to the need they have is a drop in the ocean. However, impacting one life at a time gives me the courage to continue pressing on. My husband, Chris Orcutt, is standing with me to support PPSO-E. I would not be able to do what I have been doing and continue to do without his help. Above all, I thank God for using my education, career, and knowledge for good work to bring and restore hope in the hearts of people with PD, their families, and caregivers.”