January 24, 2021 Newsletter Issue I

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

Welcome to the First Issue of the COVID-19 Horn Emergency Task Force (HETaF) Newsletter!

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a big challenge for the whole world. On March 25, 2020, HETaF was founded by several volunteer groups to address the various challenges the pandemic brings to in general, with specific focus on the eastern regions of the country. Our group mainly consists of healthcare professionals and development experts with extensive experience, from locations all over Ethiopia, such as , Asaita, Awash, Deder, , , Jigjiga, and .

On top of this, our two hundred team members span at least twenty other nations around the world. The group’s members represent many of the diverse nationalities residing in the eastern regions, such as Afars, Amharas, Hararis, Oromos, and Somalis. The group also includes community leaders, youth, and women's group members, and activists from various regions.We have been going through very rough and difficult times due to the pandemic, with the Afar region flooding further escalating the problem and demanding another urgent response. However, by working together as one team, we managed to overcome the hurdles and emerge to be even stronger as a community and as a nation. I take great pride in what our organization has thus far been able to accomplish. We will continue to strive to improve conditions for our nation. With your help, our future will get brighter, as we embark on this mission to provide more support to our beloved community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fahmi Ahmed 2020 at a Glance

HETaF's Mask Donation Afocha & Edir HETaF

Ceremony Contributions in Afar Region

HETaF presented the HETaF has taken on the HETaF representatives Ethiopian state minister responsibility of attended a ceremony in of Health, Dr. Dereje providing Afochas and the Afar Region after Duguma with certificates Edirs (traditional providing immediate after contributing councils) with masks and humanitarian and 140, 000 masks. 100, 000 medical equipment so as medical relief for masks were distributed they could serve their victims of the flooding equally around our five respective communities. and COVID-19 in regions of coverage, and A full assessment on this October. Over 1.6 the rest went to the plan's outcome and million birr had been federal government. A developments to come collected for Afar. The summary of the mask can be found here. full article on the Afar distributions, as well as Region trip can be Chairperson Fahmi's found here. speech, can be found here. 2020 at a Glance Volunteer & Donor Appreciation

Notable Afar Campaign Donors

1. Australia Qinaoot Indochach Mugad

2. LA Sisters (Los Angeles Harari

Women's Group) 3. Haji Abdusamed Gato

4. Harari Borriyach Initiative (HBI)

5. Harari Heritage Association

6. Harariyach Deen Gaar & Toronto

Women’s Association

7. Harari American Community

8. Sweden’s Harari Youth Group One of our most 9. Sweden’s Harari Association Dusit Abdi Ali (pictured) has noteworthy donors was 10. SoCal Harari Association (helped been nominated organize live Zoom fundraising) Hans de Vries (pictured HETaF's 2020 Volunteer of 11. Nabil Ture of Beker General Business, above), who donated 140, the Year for her amazing work PLC (medication donations) 000 KN-95 masks to in soliciting donors and being 12. Mohammed Yusuf Ali of Lilac Sanitary HETaF. able to build HETaF's name Napkins & Baby Diapers Manufacturing HETaF would also like to by spreading word of our Enterprise SE (womens' sanitary acknowledge his daughter mission. Thanks to Dusit, products and diaper donations) Louise de Vries (pictured among many other 13. Maftuh Abdulghafour of Pacific below) for her role in accomplishments, we were Industries, PLC (donated 3 trucks for facilitating the donation able to receive goods transportation) process. 140, 000 mask donations. Read Dusit's full statement here. COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness

As the novel COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, scepticism has naturally been common. Dr. Maria Mohammed of the UK, an executive team member of HETaF, addresses issues surrounding vaccine scepticism and debunks myths surrounding these new vaccines on an article that can be found here.

Dr. Meftuh D. Galle, vice- chairperson of HETaF and a physician triple board certified in urgent care, occupational, and preventative medicine in the U.S, personally got vaccinated to prove the vaccine's safety. An explanation from Dr. Galle of how the vaccine works can be found on the next page.

Dr. Galle receiving his vaccination COVID-19 Vaccination Safety

by Dr. Meftuh D. Galle

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop It typically takes a few weeks for the body to immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes without us having to get the illness. Different after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that types of vaccines work in different ways to offer a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after protection, but with all types of vaccines, the vaccination and then get sick because the body is left with a supply of “memory” T- vaccine did not have enough time to provide lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will protection. All preventive measures must remember how to fight that virus in the future. continue.

Sometimes after vaccination, the process of None of the current vaccines contain the live building immunity can cause symptoms, such virus that causes COVID-19. There are several as fever or muscle and joint pains. In rare different types of vaccines in development. cases, allergic reactions are also possible However, the goal for each of them is to teach with people who had allergies in the past. our immune systems how to recognize and fight Most of these symptoms are normal and are the virus that causes COVID-19. a sign that the body is building immunity.

mRNA vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna, The vaccine requires two shots. The first shot are approved in the USA. These vaccines give starts building protection. A second shot, a our cells instructions for how to make a few weeks later, is needed to get the most harmless protein that is unique to the COVID-19 protection the vaccine has to offer. Getting virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, vaccinated is one of many steps you can take they quickly destroy the rest of the mRNA to protect yourself and others from COVID- material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize 19. Protection from COVID-19 is critically that the protein produced should not be there important because for some people, it can and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that cause severe illness or death. will remember how to fight the virus that causes

COVID-19 if we are infected in the future. mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic A link from the CDC elaborating further on the makeup (DNA). vaccine's safety can be found here.

Artistic Contributions

Aba Atahri, a member of ours, is renowned within HETaF for his passion for poetry. Here is one of our favourite poems of his, which addresses the pandemic.

Oh, corona, you can run but can't hide, Not so fast! I am yet to infect many before the medicine. Pfizer will get you. It will take many years to distribute the vaccine.

You have destroyed many lives without The third world is my real comfort zone. I shall survive for a while in Africa alone. mercy. You have left businesses in bankruptcy. You have I am in several millions of bodies, asymptomatic. I am very intelligent and systematic. stunned the world with shock and in turbulence. By creating chaos and disturbance. You I possess the power and speed of light. have affected every nation without I am not giving up without a fierce fight.

hesitance. Oh, Corona, you can run but not hide! Pfizer will get you. Your exact origin is still in dissidence. You can mumble and you are in dire straits. What was your real motivation? Replace humans with Coronavirus nation? We Your vicious cycle is over no more in portraits. Don't even attempt to come back again. assure you you will never fulfill your ambition. Pfizer has arrived for your complete Everyone will be vaccinated our health will maintain. Our sins are forgiven and our prayers are accepted. elimination. There will be no escape or protection. We assure you your existence is exhausted.

Oh, Corona you can run but can't hide, Oh, corona, you will be eliminated by Pfizer. Pfizer will get you. You will only be a memory of the past forever.

Financial Report

For us at HETaF, it is important that all of our appreciated donors know what their contributions are used for. Accordingly, we are sharing a summary of our expenses and how our resources were put to use, all to be found here.

Editor's Note

Thank you for reading this first issue of the HETaF newsletter! We want to make sure that as many people as possible are made aware of the work our organisation is doing for our people. To that end, the HETaF team has worked hard to bring you this newsletter. We hope you enjoyed it!

Any questions, concerns, or contributions are welcomed, and can be received at the email listed below.

Sincerely,

Yimaj Baharun

Editor: Yimaj Baharun

Articles, comments, and suggestions may be directed to the editor at hetafnew s@ gm ail.com