February 2026 Newsletter
2025: A Year of Building
This past year gave us so much to celebrate because it reflects meaningful progress towards long-term sustainability and the strengthening of local capacity.
In 2025, we completed and inaugurated Ethiopia’s first pediatric neurosurgery Center of Excellence at Zewditu Hospital in Addis Ababa. At the same time, we expanded training and delivered critical equipment to strengthen spina bifida and hydrocephalus care while laying a strong foundation for pediatric services across the country.
Seeing the tangible progress being made in neural tube defect prevention, treatment, and aftercare not only warms our hearts but energizes us to do more, faster, and reach further. We feel the momentum in every interaction we have with medical staff, hospital leadership, government partners, and global collaborators.
To every donor, partner, and advocate, these milestones have your fingerprints all over the numbers and stories below, and we thank you for your continued and generous support.
Recent Highlights From Ethiopia
Healing Kits are reaching parents across Ethiopia
Thanks to many generous donors who contributed last year, 400 Healing Kits were put together and are now being distributed to support families caring for children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
These kits are filled with essential supplies that help caregivers confidently manage aftercare at home, including catheters, a thermometer, hygiene items, caregiver guides, a blanket, and more.
You can still sponsor a Healing Kit by making a $50 donation today!
Bi-Annual SBH Coordinator Program Evaluation Conference
Twice a year, SBH Coordinators from our eight partner hospitals come together to share knowledge, build skills, and strengthen collaboration. These connections are at the heart of ReachAnother’s model. Nothing beats getting everyone in the same room!
Rotary International President visits High-Risk Prevention Project
In January, we were honored to welcome Francesco Arezzo, Rotary International President, to Ethiopia to visit our Rotary/ReachAnother spina bifida high-risk prevention project at Zewditu Hospital.
Our partnership with Rotary has grown over 11 years to enroll 6,000+ high-risk mothers, deliver 1.8 million folic acid tablets, support 84+ healthy births, fund 170+ surgeries, train over 500 health workers, and reach 750,000 people with prevention messages.
Stronger ICU for Tiny Patients
The ReachAnother team completed an Intensive Care Unit training at Zewditu’s new Pediatric Neurosurgery Center.
From emergency response protocols, neuromonitoring and post-op care, the staff is now better equipped to care for children after complex neurosurgical surgeries.
We are so proud of how the Center is rapidly becoming a hub for expertise and exemplary pediatric care.
Rotary Grant Approved for a 3rd Year: 2 More Hospitals Added
Ayder and Hiwot Fana hospitals in Mekele and Harar join the high-risk prevention project, which already includes 4 hospitals in Addis to receive high-dose folic acid tablets for high-risk moms.
We plan to recruit 2 more nurses to support program implementation, establish counseling services, and reinforce other spina bifida and hydrocephalus activities.
Meet Barkote
Born in Bahir Dar, Barkote was diagnosed with hydrocephalus as an infant and first treated with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. But it was the endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) that marked a turning point in his recovery.
Today, Barkote is thriving. He’s in second grade and demonstrates outstanding academic performance. He continues to receive follow-up care through the multidisciplinary clinic at Gondar University Hospital, one of our Center of Excellence partners.
Barkote’s journey reflects the power of timely surgical intervention, family support, and sustained investment in Ethiopia’s pediatric neurosurgery capacity. Every child deserves this chance. 💙
GOOD NEWS ON SALT FORTIFICATION!
One January 16, Ethiopia officially launched the research findings on double fortification of salt with iodine and folic acid.
It’s a big deal and huge win! It means that the Ethiopian government is committed to translating these findings into action by beginning salt fortification this year. It shows a clear commitment plan to ensure that every household has access to double fortified salt by 2030. It means that tens of thousands of babies who otherwise would have been affected by a neural tube defects will be born healthy by the end of this decade.
This is a major milestone after years of advocacy, evidence generation and persistence. We’ll share more details at this unfolds.
