Achievements

Since its inception in 2005, the growth of ADFA has been phenomenally successful through:

  • Building trust and respect with medical practitioners at all levels in all locations.
  • Building respectful and collaborative relationships with Governments, local NFP Organisations, the Australian High Commissions, supportive corporate sponsors and local medical service providers.
  • Since 2005 the following number of committed volunteer team members, many whom have been on multiple visits to Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somaliland:
    • sixteen (16) Orthopaedic surgeons
    • one (1) General surgeon
    • three (3) Urologists
    • one (1) Gastroenterologist
    • eleven (11) Anaethetists
    • seven (7) General practice/Registrar/Resident
    • six (6) Registered Nurses
    • 10 (10) Logistic support
    • ten (10) Theatre Nurses
    • one (1) Endoscopy Nurse
    • three (3) Physiotherapists
    • one (1) Theatre Technician
    • four (4) Obstetricians/Gynaecologists
    • three (3) Obstetric Theatre Nurses
    • one (1) Midwife
    • two (2) Obstetric/Gynaecology Sonographers
  • Strong voluntary administrative, logistical and management support which has enabled ADFA operations to grow each year.
  • Consultations with between 200 – 600 patients per visit depending on the size of the medical team
  • Completing between 20 – 70 operations per visit depending on the size of the medical team
  • Dispatching twenty nine (29) sea containers since 2005 comprising vital medical equipment, medication and supplies
  • Ensuring over $4m of medical equipment, medication and supplies has been distributed to partner hospitals and clinics to build their service capacity
  • Air freighting desperately needed medical equipment and surgical supplies
  • Established comprehensive teaching and training programs in all our locations and continually strengthening programs for sustainability
  • Training surgeons in new surgical equipment, techniques and procedures for the betterment of patients
  • Established urology and gastroenterology programs in Madagascar
  • Established sustainable Talipes (clubfoot) programs in Madagascar and Ethiopia
  • Responding to unforeseen circumstances such as cholera outbreaks
  • Successfully completed in collaboration, with several major building construction, conversion or renovation projects such as:
    • Renovation of the laundry at Hargeisa Group Hospital
    • Hygiene and sanitation project at the Hospitale Generale in Tulear, Madagascar
    • Assistance and consultation with three new wards in Bosaso General Hospital Puntland
    • Renovation of two operating theatres at the Hargeisa Group Hospital, Somaliland
    • Conversion of two operating theatres at the Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa
    • Renovation of operating theatre at Hospitale Generale in Tulear, Madagascar
    • Construction of the X-ray room and Diagnostic Centre at the Edna Aden Maternity Hospital in Somaliland
    • Construction of a water tank, enlargement of the sewerage system and renovation of the public toilets at the Centre Hospitale in Madagascar, with support from the Australian High Commission,
    • Construction of the underground water reservoir in partnership with TSC and TASCO, in Somaliland
  • In 2013 Founding Director Dr Graham Forward received the John Curtin Medal for his humanitarian work
  • Also in 2013, Dr Graham Forward received the Australian Orthopaedic Association’s Humanitarian Award.