About Us

Mission Statement

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. It plans to do this by upgrading existing facilities and building new ones. With the goal of helping to train and educate the staff with the assistance and collaboration of individuals, organizations, and authorities that are local as well as global. All of whom would like to change the current unsatisfactory conditions.

Vision Statement

H.E.R.D.S. has committed itself to inspire and help establish first-rate, accessible health and education for the marginalized populations of the Horn of Africa in the near future.

Values Statement

Integrity and Accountability

Integrity, honesty, and accountability are the guiding principles of H.E.R.D.S., ensuring trust and transparency in all our actions.

Community Well-being

We prioritize the health and education of the community, striving to improve their quality of life through dedicated efforts.

Empowerment and Inclusivity

Our aim is to empower our team and the communities we serve, fostering inclusivity and active participation in our mission.

Excellence in Service

The pursuit of excellence drives us to perform our duties and responsibilities to the highest standard.

Respect for All

We are committed to treating our team, the community, and everyone we engage with respect and dignity.

Sustainability and Self-reliance

Our ultimate goal is to help communities achieve sustainability and self-reliance, ensuring long-term success and independence.

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.

Read More

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. 

Read More

AbdiGhani Ismail

Member

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

Read More

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. 

Read More

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.

Read More

Donate

Support Us and Change the Course of a Child’s Life Today!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Donate

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. 

Menu

Other Links

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Copyright © 2025 HERDS PROJECT. All Right Reserveds

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.