Heart Attack Ethiopia Launches Fifth Medical Mission at Korea Hospital – Free Cardiac Surgeries and Capacity‑Building for Ethiopia’s Healthcare System
Addis Ababa, 5 July 2026 – Heart Attack Ethiopia has kicked off its fifth round of medical missions at the MCM Hospital (commonly known as Korea Hospital) in Addis Ababa. The mission brings together more than 59 volunteer doctors from around the globe to perform up to 200 advanced cardiac procedures for free while delivering intensive, hands‑on training to Ethiopian doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Why This Mission Matters
| Goal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Expand life‑saving heart services | Provide free coronary artery bypass grafts, valve repairs, and interventional procedures to patients who cannot afford care. |
| Strengthen local expertise | Two‑week intensive rotations for Ethiopian thoracic surgeons who work side‑by‑side with international specialists. |
| Create a sustainable cardiac‑care network | Equip hospitals with equipment worth US $2.6 million that will stay in Ethiopia after the mission ends. |
“Our aim is to move beyond periodic, twice‑a‑year deployments and build a permanent, 24/7 cardiac‑care framework for Ethiopia,” said Dr. Tesfaye Telila, Co‑Founder and Executive Director of Heart Attack Ethiopia.
H2 – Mission Highlights
H3 – Massive Clinical Impact
- Up to 200 surgeries scheduled for the current deployment, ranging from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to complex valve replacements.
- More than 460 patients have already benefited from previous missions, with over 480 life‑saving procedures performed in the past three years.
H3 – International Volunteer Team
- 59+ doctors from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa are on the ground, including adult interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and anesthesiologists.
- Volunteers also bring state‑of‑the‑art equipment – portable cardiac monitors, surgical instruments and disposable supplies – that will remain in Ethiopian hospitals.
H3 – Training Ethiopian Health Workers
- Ethiopian thoracic surgeons are embedded for two weeks at Korea Hospital, participating in every operation and receiving mentorship from senior international surgeons.
- Nurses and allied health staff receive hands‑on workshops on peri‑operative care, intensive care unit (ICU) management and postoperative rehabilitation.
H2 – Success Stories from Ethiopia’s Cardiovascular Landscape
Professor Mamas Mamas Andreas, an adult interventional cardiologist at Keele University (UK), praised the Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) programme at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Since February 2025, the team has completed 150 stenting procedures, cutting heart‑attack mortality by five‑fold. He will present these results at the upcoming European Society of Cardiology Congress in Berlin – a testament to the power of global health partnerships.
H2 – Looking Ahead: From Missions to a Nationwide Cardiac Network
- 15,000 patients are currently on the waiting list for life‑saving cardiac surgery in Ethiopia, underscoring the urgency of scaling up the programme.
- Heart Attack Ethiopia is working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Diaspora Service, Ethiopian Airlines, and major hospitals to replicate the model nationwide.
“Just as the Green Legacy Initiative is planting millions of trees across the country, we need a similar growth‑mindset for cardiac care over the next 10‑20 years,” Professor Andreas added.
H2 – How the Mission Is Made Possible
- Funding & equipment: US $2.6 million in advanced cardiac equipment and consumables have been mobilised for this round. The majority of the assets will stay in Ethiopia, bolstering local capacity long after the volunteers depart.
- Community engagement: Before the official launch, the international team joined the Green Legacy tree‑planting ceremony at Korea Hospital, symbolising a commitment to a healthier, more resilient Ethiopia.
H2 – Key Takeaways
- Free, world‑class cardiac surgery is now available to hundreds of Ethiopian patients during the fifth mission.
- Capacity‑building is at the core: Ethiopian surgeons and staff gain hands‑on experience with complex procedures.
- Sustainable infrastructure – equipment and training – will remain in the country, laying the groundwork for a 24/7 cardiac‑care system.
- Future expansion is essential to address the 15,000+ patients awaiting surgery and to create a nationwide network of cardiac centres.
Further Reading
- World Health Organization – Cardiovascular disease fact sheet – Global context of heart disease burden.
- European Society of Cardiology – 2024 Annual Report – Highlights of global cardiac‑care initiatives.
- Ethiopia Ministry of Health – National Health Strategy 2022‑2027 – Governmental framework supporting health‑system strengthening.
Heart Attack Ethiopia’s fifth mission marks a pivotal step toward a self‑sufficient, high‑quality cardiac‑care system that can serve every Ethiopian in need.
