In this piece The Ethiopian Herald has turned attention to “health diplomacy” pursuant of a window to what our doctors have been doing so far regarding involvement in humanitarian support and mission beyond the borders. Then, it approached chief executive officer of Ghandhi Memorial Hospital, Dr. Ketsela Lemma, to get an insight into the backdrop and ongoing process of the hospital regarding professional exchange, technology transfer and humanitarian support in terms of heath care coverage across the borders. Excerpts:
Herald: Would you brief us on the health care services the hospital has been rendering so far?
Dr. Ketsela: Our hospital provides service mainly on maternal and new born care services. Basically, up on its launch in 1959, there were only finger counted base maternal cares health services only. But since 2014, we have set in motion a new service having intensive neonatal care unit
Also, since 2015, we have launched another intensive care unit which is a maternal intensive care unit. So, currently all together around 100 adults’ beds, 40 intensive neonatal care units’ beds and 3 maternal intensive care unit beds exist.
We provide all services related with pregnancy, delivery and also genecology care. We are also providing obstructive, prevention activities such HIV care regarding averting and screening HIV. Pharmacy and laboratory services too are rendered in the hospital.
Previously, in our hospital there were nearly 40-50 deliveries per year. And currently we deliver nearly 10,000 new born babies per year. So recently, much improvement is being undertaken in this regard.
We have 7,000-10, 000 deliveries per year. We provide new born care as well. There are around 24 health centers which are linked to the hospital in the particular places of around Finfinne, and Oromia special zones which include Sebeta, Alem Gena, Tefka Awash and 10 heath care centers over there. This is the service we provide at this moment.
Herald: what can you say about the historical backdrop of the hospital?
Dr. Ketsela: Regarding the historic back ground of the hospital, initially, it was established by Indian Community living in Addis in 1955.
The Indian community told Emperor Haile Selassie I about their lofty objective. Then the Emperor allowed them hectares of land for the establishment the hospital. The fund was raised from few Indians. They pooled 200,000-400,000 Birr deducting form their income. The remaining finance is generated from various Ethiopian donors just to construct the initial building.
Another building was built on the premise by a woman called Empress Mentewabe. We did not get written document regarding as to who built the next building block. Some say, it was the land the empress gave to the hospital.
In course of time, a
number of building blocks are also built by France donors in collaboration with
few Ethiopian individuals. In 2015, the new building was built by the
government as a part of an
expansion work.
Ours is actually the only maternal health care service in the country which renders curable health care services. Moreover, it is also giving training to Addis Ababa University for both under-graduate and post-graduate students.
In the future, we want to further expand our activities. Starting from the handing over of the hospital, we have not seen any contribution from India communities and the Embassy. But some members of the Indian embassy and other Indians pay homage to the hospital every year in connection with the birthday of Mahatma Ghandhi. They often come and put a flower wreath around the hospital’s corner.
Towards the enhancement of the the relationship between Ethiopia and India, especially in the provision of heath care activity, we are organizing platforms. AU has also visited the hospital to find out solutions to maternal and infant health problems.
We are really fond of welcoming Indian communities to revive the strong relationship between the two countries in the remembrance of Mahatma Ghandhi.
Once in a blue moon, some Indian medical practitioners came to visit us not for the sake of bringing solutions for the health problem of the country. In short, I do not see any sort of support by Indians anymore.
Herald: What do you suggest about the overall health care services of the country?
Dr. Ketsela: Obviously, the country’s health policy is based on prevention. Prevention is a better option in the developing country because it demands low cost.
Prevention is better than curative service. So, the provision of health care service is becoming better and better. And it is in a balanced position. The inauguration of numbers of primary hospitals and health care centers can be taken as exemplary of health care extensions.
Here in Addis, the majority of the service is being delivered by private organizations, which are unable to cope up with the wide range magnitudes of health care services by governmental health institutions.
There were few hospitals which used to give health care services before the Ghandhi Memorial hospital was established to provide health services to around 100,000 people.
As the rate of population density increases from time to time, additional hospitals and health care centers should be established to outreach millions.
Currently, there are about many impregnated women demanding bed room in the hospitals. So the patients are waiting long to obtain referral services. They are voicing complaint about the health care services they receive. Therefore, improvement and dramatic change are needed in the future.
Herald: What decisive measures should the government take to get assistances from other countries and non-governmental organizations?
Dr. Ketsela: Concerning the contribution of non-governmental organizations regarding the accessibility of health care services, some of the health care services are being provided by the goodwill of developed states.
Therefore, collaborative tasks and concerted efforts are needed, especially, for high cost health services which demand intensive and special care units as the public demand is becoming critical. It is given due concern at the present time.
As the patients face up chronic illness, they are forced to go outside the country to places like India, Bangkok and Thailand, to search for meaningful treatments. So, we have to be giving heath care services here.
For example, if you see in our setting, we want to establish infertility and other related specialist area because people suffer from infertility. People move to India, Dubai, Bangkok and other countries so that those services can not only provided by the government of Ethiopia. Because the service is asked high cost in price.
Taking the hurdles into consideration, there must be a means to work cooperatively with foreign medical organizations and other related stakeholders, particularly, with the party of private India health care facilities in the activities of human resource development, housing health services, technology transfer, and professional exchange, among others.
Then, our professional will get knowledge and manage to establish specialties care units. I think, public-private partnership is mandatory to strengthen the performance of health care services of the country.
Herald: What do you say about the activity of foreign doctors and doctors beyond borders?
Dr. Ketsela: This is a very important issue that we have to deal with. Of course, our doctors also contribute a lot and participate actively. Some physicians had been touring to Juba, South Sudan for health care mission. They were working there intensively in taking care of the given people.
And also there are doctors drawn from various universities of Juba land working with Ethiopian doctors for the specific health issues. Some foreigners have got training opportunities in Addis Ababa University. That is actually part of professional exchange. In other words, there are also doctors coming here for different areas of training and courses.
Herald: What similar efforts should be mounted by our medical practitioners regarding involvement in the humanitarian aid assistance mission outside the country like the one done on Ebola?
Dr. Ketsela: when requests arise from countries which demand health cares, our professional warmly respond with alacrity. They are willing to serve anywhere outside the country like the way we did – professional tasks in Liberia and South Sudan in the cases of Ebola and other diseases.
Wherever there is a need, we are willing to do so. Decades back, before we developed enough number of physicians and health professionals, professionals of other countries helped us a lot in the provision of health care services and for the establishment of medical schools. The issue you raised is a very important area to involve and aggressively engage in the mission of humanitarian activities across the borders.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday August 25, 2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
