Scholarship Application Letter Nurse in Ethiopia Addis Ababa – Free Word Template Download with AI

Date: October 26, 2023

Admissions Committee

International Health Scholarship Program

Global Health Foundation for Development

New York, USA

Dear Esteemed Members of the Scholarship Committee,

It is with profound respect for your institution's mission and deep personal commitment to transforming healthcare access that I submit my application for the International Health Scholarship Program. As a dedicated Nursing Professional currently serving in the heart of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, I write not merely as an applicant but as a frontline advocate working within one of Africa’s most dynamic yet strained healthcare ecosystems. My name is Abebech Tadesse, and I am writing to express my unwavering resolve to pursue advanced education in nursing with the singular goal of addressing critical healthcare gaps in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences in 2020, I have spent the past three years providing direct patient care at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia’s largest public hospital located in Addis Ababa. This institution serves over 15 million residents across the capital and surrounding regions, yet remains critically understaffed—with a nurse-to-patient ratio of approximately 1:1200, far below the WHO-recommended minimum of 1:458. My daily experiences have exposed me to the devastating consequences of this shortage: overcrowded maternity wards where postpartum hemorrhage cases go untreated due to staffing limits, chronic disease management lapses in diabetes and hypertension clinics, and a growing burden of infectious diseases like TB and HIV in our urban slums. As a Nurse on the frontlines of Addis Ababa’s public health system, I have witnessed how systemic underinvestment directly translates to preventable suffering.

My clinical journey has been deeply shaped by Ethiopia’s unique healthcare challenges. During my rotation at Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa, I worked alongside community health workers implementing the Health Extension Program (HEP), a national initiative designed to deliver basic maternal and child health services to rural villages. However, even this groundbreaking program faces limitations in urban settings where migration has created complex healthcare needs. I observed families traveling over 4 hours from peri-urban areas like Bole or Gullele to access specialized care—a reality that fuels the very inequities our nursing profession must address. As a Nurse, I’ve seen how limited resources force us to prioritize acute emergencies over preventive care, perpetuating cycles of illness in communities where poverty and limited health literacy compound medical challenges.

It is precisely this urgency that drives my application for your scholarship. I seek admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a specialization in Community Health Systems at Johns Hopkins University, commencing September 2024. This advanced training will equip me with evidence-based strategies to strengthen Ethiopia’s healthcare infrastructure—specifically focusing on nurse-led community health models adaptable to Addis Ababa’s dense urban landscape. I am particularly eager to study innovative approaches like task-shifting protocols used in Rwanda and Ghana, which have significantly improved maternal outcomes through structured nurse-physician collaboration. My goal is not only to gain technical skills but to develop a culturally grounded framework for expanding preventive healthcare access across Addis Ababa’s 100+ informal settlements, where over 5 million residents currently lack consistent primary care.

My vision extends beyond clinical practice. I am committed to developing a nurse-managed mobile health clinic model targeting high-risk populations in Addis Ababa’s underserved neighborhoods, such as those near the Meskel Square and Arada districts. This initiative would leverage Ethiopia’s existing Health Extension Program structure while integrating telehealth solutions to overcome geographic barriers—a concept I’ve already begun piloting with university colleagues through our “Health for All” student group. With your scholarship support, I will refine this model during my graduate studies, ensuring it aligns with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s current Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP II), which prioritizes nurse leadership in community health delivery.

What distinguishes my application is not merely my academic record but my irrevocable commitment to serve Ethiopia. Unlike many international students who pursue degrees abroad, I have no intention of migrating permanently. The scholarship funds will cover tuition and living expenses only for the duration of my graduate studies, after which I will return immediately to Ethiopia Addis Ababa to implement the strategies learned at Johns Hopkins. My family resides in Addis Ababa; my parents are both retired government health workers who instilled in me a duty to serve our community. This is not just a career path—it is a lifelong promise made through my work as a Nurse amid the vibrant, struggling streets of Ethiopia’s capital.

I understand that scholarship committees evaluate countless applications, but I implore you to consider the tangible impact this investment would yield. For every $50,000 invested in my education, I will train 50 nurse colleagues through post-graduation workshops; establish 3 mobile clinics serving 25,000 residents annually; and develop a digital health literacy toolkit used by Addis Ababa’s public health department. These are not hypotheticals—they are the measurable outcomes I have already begun designing during my tenure as a Nurse at Tikur Anbessa Hospital, where I coordinated HIV/AIDS support groups for over 200 patients while managing clinical duties.

As Ethiopia Addis Ababa continues its journey toward universal health coverage, the need for skilled, locally rooted nursing leadership has never been more urgent. I am prepared to be that leader. With your support, I will transform theoretical knowledge into community action—ensuring that every mother in Addis Ababa’s crowded wards receives the dignified care she deserves; every child accesses routine vaccinations; and every elderly patient finds compassionate treatment without crossing half the city to find a bed. The Scholarship Application Letter you hold is more than an application—it is a pledge to Ethiopia, written with the ink of my daily experience as a Nurse in Addis Ababa.

I would be honored to discuss how my vision aligns with your foundation’s mission. Thank you for considering my application and for investing in the future of healthcare in Ethiopia Addis Ababa.

Sincerely,

Abebech Tadesse, BScN
Nursing Professional & Community Health Advocate
Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Phone: +251 911 234 567 | Email: [email protected]

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