Tony and Maggie Rizzo, Founders of the Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation ‘Fighting Leukaemia’ visited Ethiopia recently on a fact finding mission gearing up for a new project for the year ahead.
In association with Plan Ireland, a meeting with the Ethiopian Cancer Society was central to the visit, while a range of site visits to schools, aid projects and hospitals exposed the need for funding in an area of Alternative Hair specialism. Areas visited included Addis Ababa, Tambaro, Hawassa and Gambella among others.
As the survival rate of leukaemia patients in Ethiopia is only 20% compared to 75% in the UK, Rizzo was pleased to announce ‘The Alternative Hair Ethiopia Project’ will fund a Health Centre in Tambaro run by the Maids of the Poor, including a much needed education program. This project will provide financial support in order to construct a dedicated building to deliver mother and child health services in an upgraded environment to a community living in poor socio economic conditions. The health status of Ethiopia is among the lowest in the world.
Upon return Tony Rizzo said: “The trip was an incredible experience, providing a great insight into the basic minimal needs for the people to survive. It was invaluable to see first hand the incredible work that the many aid agencies do to extend help within the region.”