Sue Mumford, chair of Hospice Ethiopia UK, is stunned by the award. Former NHS nurse Sue Mumford, who worked at Prisicilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich, has been made an MBE in the New Years Honours list in recognition of her services to palliative care in Ethiopia. Sue is chair of Hospice Ethiopia UK (HEUK), a charity that raises funds to support Ethiopia’s only hospice.
Sue has been involved in the charity since 2012, when a group of health care professionals at Priscilla Bacon Lodge started to support Hospice Ethiopia. She became chair of the group in 2016. Since 2012 Sue has visited Ethiopia thirteen times, most recently in November 2024 when she and her husband, retired doctor Jamie Mumford, helped run a training course in palliative care in the country.
Hospice Ethiopia was originally founded in 2003 by an Ethiopian nurse, Sister Tsigereda, who was saddened at the number of people who were left to die without adequate care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital.
Before that, there was no palliative care in the country, which now has a population in excess of 120 million.
Over the years, with help from HEUK, the hospice has looked after thousands of patients, bringing relief to their suffering. Just as importantly, the hospice is a centre of excellence in Ethiopia and beyond, training hundreds of medics who in turn bring relief to thousands of desperate people and their families in Ethiopia and beyond.
Support from the UK has been essential in this work, with HEUK raising around £60,000 a year. Trustees claim no expenses for their travel to Ethiopia so that all donations go where they’re really needed.
Sue works work closely with Hospice Ethiopia’s director, Ephrem Abathun, and has monthly calls with him so that HEUK can understand their needs and challenges and share in their successes.
Jill Morgan, one of HEUK’s trustees, says “The word ‘tirelessly’ is sometimes overused, but in Sue’s case it’s an understatement. I don’t think there is ever a time when she’s not either doing something for the charity or figuring out ways to progress its vital work. As well a leading the volunteers in the UK, she is always working at the heart of every fundraising event – everything from giving a talk to washing dishes, she’s there doing it. She thoroughly deserves this honour.”
Sue says “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition, but this MBE is not just for me – it represents the incredible dedication of everyone at Hospice Ethiopia UK and our partners in Ethiopia.
Together, we are ensuring that people with life-limiting illnesses can face their final days with dignity, comfort, and compassion. I hope this honour shines a light on the importance of palliative care and inspires further support for this vital work. I couldn’t have done any of this without fantastic support from my husband, family, trustees, and volunteers.”
For more information on Hospice Ethiopia visit hospiceethiopia.org.uk.
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Ethiopia has an estimated population of more than 120 million, but only one hospice. Many thousands of people there have incurable diseases. They are dying in distress, often in severe pain, with nowhere to turn and their only hope is Hospice Ethiopia.
Hospice Ethiopia provides free drugs, so that the dying have relief from pain, and medical care to alleviate their worst symptoms. It gives support, so that patients can care for themselves and in many cases, their children. Even more important, Hospice Ethiopia is training doctors, nurses and other medics about palliative care – care for the dying – so that they can help the thousands more who need it, across Ethiopia and in other African countries.
Hospice Ethiopia has no government funding, relying wholly on donations. Hospice Ethiopia UK was set up to help raise the funds it needs – around £70,000 per year. 100% of the money raised in the UK goes directly to Hospice Ethiopia, so every penny makes a real difference.
Lead photo: Sue Mumford with Nurse Kalkidan
Amazing!