Sheffield Health Action Resource for Ethiopia Also known as SHARE
Charity registration number: 1173972
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period: 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
Objectives and Activities
SHARE is a mutually beneficial collaboration between healthcare professionals in Sheffield, other affiliates and partner organisations in Ethiopia with a specific focus on the Tigray region. Sustainable Healthcare improvement is facilitated through communication of best practice, skill exchange and community engagement.
Over the year 2022-23 there were no SHARE visits to Ethiopia, due to the pandemic and the civil unrest in the country. The last visit was early February 2020. We have tried to build on the project aspects from afar since then.
We continue to foster our long-term personal and professional relationships remotely due to the civil unrest. Communication has been very challenging due to the civil unrest however we have managed to use email and whatsapp to support projects and transfer funds where needed.
The Trustees are happy that the charity is being run for the public benefit, in line with the Charity Commission recommendations
Achievements and Performance
Through 2022/2023 there were no visits to Tigray.
Currently activities have been suspended due to the civil unrest and we are trying to support our partners remotely and hope to resume activities when it is safe for all involved.
Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
Sadly, the COVID pandemic and the civil conflict have meant there have been huge challenges to healthcare provision and sanitation. Initially we helped give Infection Prevention and Control advice and guidance around COVID, supported lab diagnostic discussions and engaged with the pandemic planning. However, despite our efforts the situation became very challenging with compromised medical supplies, communication interruptions and we are aware of compromised water supply.
Laboratory links
Most laboratory work has ceased due to the lack of consumables and kits, particularly in more remote areas of Tigray affected by the conflict, as travel is dangerous and the regional health bureau is struggling to provide ongoing provisions.
Dentistry and Forensic Odontology
Dr Birke returned to the UK in April 2022 to continue in person the PhD programme she had started remotely in September 2021 studying at King’s College London. Her research is a study of the strengthening and redevelopment of healthcare systems post war in five countries around the world, Ethiopia being one of them.
It is hoped that the knowledge and training given to both the police and medical and dental personnel in forensic odontology will be a useful skill into the future post conflict.
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Elshadai Wukro Children’s Village
We remain in regular communication with the staff here and continue to support the health of the children as much as possible. This has been mainly in securing food farming resources, helping repair damaged buildings after extreme weather and providing educational stability for the children. Our donors continue to sponsor a group of children and we have successfully managed to transfer funds meaning support has not been compromised. Despite the conflict one student has gained a place at Addis Ababa university.
Diabetes Project
No activity has been possible with this project this calendar year but SHARE members have been in touch with the Consultant who we helped provide specialist diabetes training in Sheffield and we managed to transfer some funds for insulin during times of crises when no medical supplies from the government were being delivered.
Medical Engineering:
The lead Medical Engineer whom we have worked with for many years has struggled to keep in touch as the internet and telephone system was shut down during the conflict. On the odd occasion when the university internet was restored we got short summaries of the condition and functionality of the hospital. We received the sad news that all dialysis patients had died due to lack of materials and medication. This was particularly difficult for the Biomedical Engineering department as they had worked so hard to recently set up and run the dialysis unit. It was reported to us that an estimated 80% of medical facilities across the region of Tigrai had been destroyed or looted during the conflict
Mama Kits
The initial delivery of money for Mamakits unfortunately was halted due to the civil unrest and collapse of the banking system. The project was suspended due to the lack of supplies and closure of banks.
Financial Review
The charity is in a healthy position with just over £16,000 held.
Poor communication & the variable exchange rate make it difficult to confirm remotely that funds are fully correctly used, however previous visits in person allowed us check our monies have been received and were being used to support the children at Elshadai as required, and we have confidence in our partners to use any resource we have go to them prudently.
We currently allocate £5000 as operational reserves.
The charity is primarily funded via fundraising by members and friends of the charity.
Our principal financial risk continues to be the unpredictability of income year-to-year, since most income is via voluntary donation. If available funding is low, we would be unable to support visits to or from our Partners.
Structure, Governance and Management
SHARE was formed in 2000 as an organisation with charitable objectives. In July 2017 it became a CIO, and is governed by a constitution which was updated at the time of becoming a CIO. It is available via our website www.sharesheffield.org.uk under “About Us”
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As well as Trustees, we have volunteers who offer their services and expertise supporting the charity, as well as participating in visits to our partners in Ethiopia.
We define an active volunteer as someone who has interacted with the charity in the last 24 months. This could be by attending a meeting, fundraising, talking to a Trustee or working on a project.
We class active volunteers to be members of the charity, and they are expected to abide by a set of membership rules which are available via our website www.sharesheffield.org.uk under “About Us”
We have Memorandums of Understandings between us and our main partners in Ethiopia: Tigray Regional Health Board, Ayder Referral Hospital, Elshadai Children’s Village, Mekelle Hospital, and Daerere Laboratory.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Sheffield Health Action Resource for Ethiopia |
| Other name the charity uses | SHARE |
| Registered charity number | 1173972 |
| Correspondence address | c/o 27 Psalter Lane Sheffield, S11 |
The charity is managed by the following Trustees
Jane Boyce, Dr Cariad Evans (Honorary Chair), Simone Naylor, Anne Russell, Dr Claire Ryan, Simon Temple (Honorary Treasurer), Prof Solomon Tesfaye.
All trustees served for the full 12 months of the year.
Simone Naylor & Jane Boyce ended their 3 year terms as Trustees in July 2022. Both were happy to continue for another 3 years each, and were accepted by the remaining Trustees.
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Account of Receipts and Payments for financial year ended 31 March 2023
| Receipts | 2021-22(lastyear) | 2022-23(thisyear) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad-hoc donations | £784 | £3,868 | |
| Elshadai Children’s Village | £5,961 | £10,325 | |
| MamaKit | £7,823 | £0 | |
| £14,568 | £14,193 | ||
| Payments | |||
| Fundraising& Publicity | £0 | £0 | |
| Projects | £0 | £40 | |
| Elshadai Children’s Village | £0 | £11,195 | |
| MamaKit | £7,250 | £10,000 | |
| £7,250 | £21,235 | ||
| Summary | |||
| Brought forward | £15,817 | £23,136 | |
| Receipts | £14,568 | £14,192 | |
| Payments | £7,250 | £21,235 | |
| Carried forward | £23,136 | £16,094 |
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Cariad Evans Simon Temple Position Honorary Chair Honorary Treasurer Date 20[th] December 2023
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