Huddersfield filmmaker and doctor make DVD to combat obesity in Ethiopia

Nov 24 2009 By Dave Himelfield

"Thus, the poorest countries now have the double burden of unconquered infectious diseases and rising incidence of degenerative illness.’’

So Mr Edmonds of director of Time Trapper DVD makers and Dr Mengistu, an Ethiopian public health specialist, have joined forces to make a DVD to educate Ethiopia’s upcoming wealthier population on healthy choices.

Dr Mengistu is a director of Huddersfield-based company Agape Health, a worldwide consultant in lifestyle and preventative medicine.

He has lived and worked all over the world including Russia, the USA andGermany.

A casual chat between the two led to the production of the DVD in the Ethiopian language Amharic and English.

It is hoped private and public organisations inside and outside Ethiopia will buy the DVD and then supply it to Ethiopian communities at low or no cost.

Mr Edmonds said 5% of sales from the DVD will go to the Abebech Gobena Orphanage in Ethiopia which cares for children who have lost their parents due to AIDS.

The orphanage was set up by Abebech Gobena who is known as the Mother Teresa of Africa.

The orphanage and school – 80 miles from Addis Ababa – now has 200 resident and 482 non-resident pupils. Over 1,800 benefit from a child-sponsorship scheme and the orphanage makes sure that more than 2,000 malnourished children and mothers receive food.

The aim is to turn needy children into productive and responsible citizens so they can support themselves and contribute to society.

They learn sewing, knitting and weaving, metalwork, plumbing, electricity, photography and silkscreen printing. She reunites orphans with relatives wherever possible, but the number of orphans continues to grow with the spread of HIV.

For more information visit: www.timetrappers.com