Providing the Tools for Healthier Lives in Ethiopia

Sight for the Blind

Providing Safe Water

Treatment for Podo

Support for Women and Children

Aids for the Disabled

This is What We Do

Blindness

Many people in Ethiopia are blind due to dense cataracts. Thousands of blind or visually impaired patients now enjoy restored sight. This is the result of life-changing cataract surgery made possible by THAF funding.

Safe Water

In Ethiopia, only one in three people has easy access to safe water. One child in ten dies before his/her fifth birthday – half from diarrhea. THAF works to protect springs and build safe and inexpensive water collection systems.

Podoconiosis

“Podo” is a disfiguring disease affecting over a million people in Ethiopia who are too poor to afford shoes. It is the result of barefoot exposure to irritant soil. THAF provides shoes and funding to both prevent and treat this disease.

Women & Children

Little or no access to health care means high mortality rates for mothers and their children. THAF provides funding for primary care, obstetrical services, and much needed gynecology surgery for Ethiopian women.

Mobility Aids

Most people with mobility challenges in Ethiopia have no access to prosthetic limbs, walking aids, or wheelchairs. THAF assists organizations that provide these devices. This allows children to attend school and be socially active.

Passing of Peter Smars (Chairman of the board of THAF)

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Peter Smars (Chairman of the board of THAF) on April 15, 2024.

Peter, a native of Sweden and graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine (82), worked in the Emergency Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN since completing his residency and fellowship there in the late 1980’s.  In 2019 he underwent a successful Double Lung Transplant due to rapidly deteriorating lung function caused by Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Following his lung transplant Peter regained his health and vitality, and when THAF’s founder, Dr. Larry Thomas, unexpectedly died in December 2020, Peter (a THAF board member since it’s foundation)  took over as Chairman of the Board.

Peter had a passion for this work and experienced this as one of his ‘Life Callings’. Two years ago Peter developed a fungal lung infection that, despite eventual successful treatment, destroyed his transplanted lungs. His health care team at the Mayo Clinic listed him for another transplant, and on March 22 he received the highly anticipated call that a good organ-match had been found for him.

When I talked to him on the phone that evening he was well aware of the risks, yet felt fortunate to have been given this opportunity for another chance at life. Unfortunately there were unanticipated intraoperative complications that subsequently led to multi-organ failure, sepsis and his tragic death 3 weeks after his transplant.  Peter is survived by his wife Miriam and 5 children.

His remarkable life was celebrated on May 5 in a beautiful memorial service in the Adventist Church in Dodge Center, MN. In attendance was his family, including his 5 siblings from Sweden, colleagues and staff from the Mayo Clinic, and a score of his many friends (including THAF board members).

Peter leaves behind a large void, but the Tropical Health Alliance Foundation will continue its work without any interruption.  The Board of THAF has elected Geir Frivold, MD, MPH as their new Chair.

Peter’s family have suggested a gift to the THAF as an option in leu of flowers to Honor Peter’s memory.

Remembering Dr. Larry L. Thomas

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of THAF founder Dr. Larry L Thomas. 

Larry’s virtual memorial service was held on Feb 13th at the Loma Linda University Church. If you’d like to watch the heart-felt tribute to our founder, please click the link below.

While Larry’s passing has left a hole in all the lives he touched, we want to reassure everyone that THAF’s work will continue for many years to come. 

With your continued support we will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Ethiopians just as Larry intended. 

— Dr. Peter Smars & Henrik Jorgensen, THAF Board of Directors

(JAN-2017)-Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. Mark Twain

Heaven goes by favor.  If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.

Mark Twain

(FEB-2017)-Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property. 2012 World Bank Report

Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property.

2012 World Bank Report

(MAR-2017)-An average American uses 100 gallons of water per day. An average European uses 50 gallons of water per day. An average sub-saharan African uses 2 to 5 gallons of water per day.

An average American uses 100 gallons of water per day.  An average European uses 50 gallons of water per day.  An average sub-saharan African uses 2 to 5 gallons of water per day.

(APR-2017)-If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. Margaret Thatcher

If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.

Margaret Thatcher

(MAY-2017)-For when a child is born the mother also is born again. Gilbert Parker

For when a child is born the mother also is born again.

Gilbert Parker

(JUN-2017)-A good father is one of the most unsung, upraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. Billy Graham

A good father is one of the most unsung, upraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.

Billy Graham

(JUL-2017)-MYTH: There is not enough food to go around REALITY: There is enough food in the world to make most people fat!

MYTH: There is not enough food to go around

REALITY: There is enough food in the world to make most people fat!

(AUG-2017)-PODO (short for podoconiosis) is a grotesquely disfiguring and socially ostracizing disease that affects over one million people in Ethiopia. It is 100% preventable.

PODO (short for podoconiosis) is a grotesquely disfiguring and socially ostracizing disease that affects over one million people in Ethiopia.  It is 100% preventable.

 

(SEP-2017)-The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose--and that is to support the ultimate career. C.S. Lewis

The homemaker has the ultimate career.  All other careers exist for one purpose–and that is to support the ultimate career.

C.S. Lewis

(OCT-2017)-Cataract surgery and correction of refractive errors are among the most cost-effective health interventions. World Health Organization

Cataract surgery and correction of refractive errors are among the most cost-effective health interventions.

World Health Organization

(NOV-2017)-The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Mother Teresa

The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

Mother Teresa

(DEC-2017)-I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. Thomas Jefferson

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Thomas Jefferson

(JAN-2017/2018)-The truly rich person is not one that has the most, but on that needs the least. Unknown

The truly rich person is not one that has the most, but on that needs the least.

Unknown

(JAN-2016)-Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment. WHO Report

Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment.

WHO Report

(FEB-2016)-Power is the ablity to do good things for others. Brooke Astor

Power is the ablity to do good things for others.

Brooke Astor

(MAR-2017)-If you could tomorrow morning make water clean in the world, you would have done, in one fell swoop, the best thing you could have done for improving human health by improving environmental quality. William C. Clark

If you could tomorrow morning make water clean in the world, you would have done, in one fell swoop, the best thing you could have done for improving human health by improving environmental quality.

William C. Clark

(APR-2016)-If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. Dalai Lama XIV

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

Dalai Lama XIV

(MAY-2016)-The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. William Ross Wallace

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

William Ross Wallace

(JUN-2016)-To her, the name of father was another name for love. Fanny Fern

To her, the name of father was another name for love.

Fanny Fern

(JUL-2016)-I want to turn the clock back to when people lived in small villages and took care of each other. Pete Seeger

I want to turn the clock back to when people lived in small villages and took care of each other.

Pete Seeger

(AUG-2016)-PODO (short for podoconiosis) is a grotesquely disfiguring and socially ostracizing disease that affects over one million people in Ethiopia. It is 100% preventable.

PODO (short for podoconiosis) is a grotesquely disfiguring and socially ostracizing disease that affects over one million people in Ethiopia.  It is 100% preventable.

(SEP-2016)-In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. Dietrich bonhoeffer

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

Dietrich bonhoeffer

(OCT-2016-Substitute Picture)-World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness celebrated each October around the world in order to focus on blindness and vision impairment.

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness celebrated each October around the world in order to focus on blindness and vision impairment.

(NOV-2016)-When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude. Elie Wiesel

When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity.  A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.

Elie Wiesel

(DEC-2016)-To be content with little is hard; to be content with much, impossible. Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

To be content with little is hard; to be content with much, impossible.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

(MAR-2008)-I'm doing what I think I was put on this earth to do. And I'm grateful to have something I'm passionate about and that I I think is profoundly important. Mariam Edelman Wright

I’m doing what I think I was put on this earth to do.  And I’m grateful to have something I’m passionate about and that I I think is profoundly important.

Mariam Edelman Wright

(DEC-2015)-Worldwide some 285 million people are blind or visually disabled--the equivalent of two-thirds of the entire U.S. population. WHO Report

Worldwide some 285 million people are blind or visually disabled–the equivalent of two-thirds of the entire U.S. population.

WHO Report

(JUL-2012)-Whoever rescues a single soul is credited as though they had saved the whole world. The Talmud

Whoever rescues a single soul is credited as though they had saved the whole world.

The Talmud

(APR-2015)-The great tragedy of blindness is that a child is often indentured to years of servitude, leading the blind person day and night. Such children cannot attend school or play with other children. They are robbed of their childhood.

The great tragedy of blindness is that a child is often indentured to years of servitude, leading the blind person day and night.  Such children cannot attend school or play with other children.  They are robbed of their childhood.

(FEB-2012)-Gravity cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. Albert Einstein

Gravity cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.

Albert Einstein

(OCT-2008)-You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings. Pearl S. Buck

You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.

Pearl S. Buck

(JUN-2008)-When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become. Louis Pasteur

When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.

Louis Pasteur

(OCT-2009)-Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

(FEB-2008)-If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand up for much. Mariam Edelman Wright

If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand up for much.

Mariam Edelman Wright

(SEP-2014)-The soul is healed by being with children. Fydor Dostoevsky

The soul is healed by being with children.

Fydor Dostoevsky

(MAY-2010)-Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything get reduced to essentials. Meryl Streep

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect.  Everything get reduced to essentials.

Meryl Streep

(AUG-2009-One goes more quickly to heaven from a hut than from a palace. Saint Francis of Assisi

One goes more quickly to heaven from a hut than from a palace.

Saint Francis of Assisi

(AUG-2009-One goes more quickly to heaven from a hut than from a palace. Saint Francis of Assisi

One goes more quickly to heaven from a hut than from a palace.

Saint Francis of Assisi