Programs

Our Programs

Expanding Health Facilities

H.E.R.D.S. is committed to establishing quality healthcare by expanding the health center in Yuub and creating essential departments, including:

  • Radiology (x-ray, ultrasound, etc.)
  • General Surgery
  • Emergency Department
Building Capacity in Health and Education

o enhance the health and education sectors, H.E.R.D.S. focuses on:

  • Training and educating local staff.
  • Establishing work guidelines for better performance.
  • Ensuring the school curriculum is modern and consistently followed across elementary, junior, and secondary levels.
Empowering the Youth

H.E.R.D.S. aims to inspire the youth to pursue their aspirations within their country by:

  • Advocating for quality education and dedication as paths to success.
  • Discouraging dangerous migration routes (Tahrib) to Europe, the Gulf States, and beyond.
  • Rebuilding trust in the educational system to foster opportunities for advancement in life.
Future Projects and Strategic Planning

After the successful completion of the Yuub project, H.E.R.D.S. plans to undertake additional health and education projects in Ethiopia and other Horn of Africa countries. A comprehensive evaluation in 2028 will guide the next steps, shaping the updated strategic plan for 2028-203

Ethiopian Authorities

Get in touch with the Ethiopian authorities, explain our objectives, and request permission to operate in the country. We understand the problems of bureaucracy and sometimes the lack of efficiency and integrity. But, we believe, due to our familiarity with the land, the people, and our connections, we would prevail. We will get permission from the appropriate ministry/agency in Addis Ababa; and this should not take us more than a week. In the regional capital, Jigjiga, one other week should also be enough to get the green light.

Health Center & School

Identify reputable, experienced, and a devoted local construction company to build the facilities (health center and afterschool building). There are companies with the skills and capacities that we are already in touch with, and they have given us their estimates. The construction work of the building and their completion should not take more than 3 months.

Open an account with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (the national bank of the land).

Objectives of H.E.R.D.S

Establish a base for H.E.R.D.S. in the country, especially in the area we will be working, that would represent the organization and monitor its activities.

Recruit volunteers in the areas and communities we work (including here in the U.S.) that would contribute to the work and objectives of H.E.R.D.S.

The work, initiatives, and progress of the projects will be continuously monitored and evaluated by internal reports, meetings, and different methods of information dissemination.

Board of Directors of H.E.R.D.S

Abdul Aziz Yusuf

President

Abdul Aziz was born in Ethiopia. He studied medicine in the then West Germany. Abdul Aziz is a former physician who worked in some district and regional hospitals in the Horn of Africa as a general practitioner.

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Naima Ismail

Secretary

Dr. Naima Ismail is currently undergoing her medical residency for radiology at the
University of Minnesota. She completed her medical degree at Ohio University. 

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AbdiGhani Ismail

Member

AbdiGhani Ismail is a resident physician specializing in internal medicine with an interest in gastroenterology and clinical nutrition. 

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Husein Yussuf

Treasure

Husein Yussuf serves as the Treasurer of H.E.R.D.S, bringing expertise in financial oversight, strategic planning, and nonprofit management. 

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Hotho Yusuf

Vice President

Hotho is a dedicated public health professional with a background in local government and a strong focus on data-driven policy solutions.

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The mission of  H.E.R.D.S. is to improve and advance the health and education access of the under-served regions of the Horn of Africa for the well-being of that population. 

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Abdul Aziz Yusuf

President

Abdul Aziz was born in Ethiopia. He studied medicine in the then West Germany. Abdul Aziz is a former physician who worked in some district and regional hospitals in the Horn of Africa as a general practitioner.

His involvement in charity initiatives dates back to his student years. In 1980, he was part of seven students that founded an NGO called West-Somalische Selbsthilfe Verein, e.V. in Germany. The mission was to assist war refugees from the Somali region of Ethiopia that fled to Somalia at the end of the 1977 war.

Abdul Aziz built and started a women’s center on behalf of the organization in Qoryole, South Somalia, in 1984. It was an income-generating project for women. They produced sandals and different clothing items for sale. The project continued to be funded and managed by the organization/NGO until the breakdown of the Somali Civil war in 1991.

Again, in the early 90s, Abdul Aziz built and started health and nutrition centers in Mandera and El-Waq in Kenya. It served refugees from Somalia that fled the Somali civil war. A charity funded and managed those projects, and he was the head of the health and nutrition program.

In the mid-90s, he immigrated to the U.S, where he is now retired. 

Naima Ismail

Secretary

Dr. Naima Ismail is currently undergoing her medical residency for radiology at the University of Minnesota. She completed her medical degree at Ohio University. In medical school, she worked with her classmates to help develop a STEM focused after school program. Utilizing the tools she learned from this imitative, she hopes to engage in global health by developing Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) utilization, to help bridge the gaps of access to medical imaging in under-resourced communities. The the community of Yuub does not have any radiological services in its health center. Community members must often travel 6+ hours to access a health facility with imaging resources. By being involved in H.E.R.D.S, Dr. Ismail hopes to work with the other H.E.R.D.S members to help empower and uplift this community in need.

AbdiGhani Ismail

Member

AbdiGhani Ismail is a resident physician specializing in internal medicine with an interest in gastroenterology and clinical nutrition. He is interested in advancing global health equity through impactful initiatives and has a commitment to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities. Passionate about sustainable solutions, Dr. Ismail  has worked on a number of health equity projects throughout medical school and residency and is excited to work with the group to improve access to quality care and empower the local system to foster long-term change

Husein Yussuf

Treasure

Husein Yussuf serves as the Treasurer of H.E.R.D.S, bringing expertise in financial oversight, strategic planning, and nonprofit management. With a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University and a B.S. in Business from the University of Minnesota, he has managed multi-million-dollar budgets and led community initiatives. His leadership ensures H.E.R.D.S remains financially sustainable while expanding its impact on healthcare  and education infrastructure in Ethiopia.

Hotho Yusuf

Vice President

Hotho is a dedicated public health professional with a background in local government and a strong focus on data-driven policy solutions. Currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy & Management at the Yale School of Public Health, she combines academic expertise with hands-on experience to address public health challenges and improve community outcomes.

With experience in public health policy, data analysis, and project management, Hotho is passionate about leveraging data visualization and statistical insights to inform healthcare policies and drive impactful change. She has worked extensively in local government, focusing on improving health equity and access to care for underserved populations.

Her interests are in regulatory affairs, health economics, and using data to identify innovative strategies that bridge healthcare gaps. Through her work, she aims to create meaningful change by combining evidence-based approaches with thoughtful policy design.