ADDIS ABABA –Despite major delays, the Wollo Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospital, initially envisioned as a premier East African facility, will be fully handed over to Wollo University by May 22.
A pre-handover discussion held yesterday revealed that management changes, budgetary constraints, and a complex, novel design have contributed to substantial delays.
General Manager of the Charity Committee overseeing the project, Eshetu Ayele, stated that the hospital’s inception dates back to 2002, with formal operations commencing in 2012. The ambitious project aimed at providing care for over 700 inpatients and thousands of outpatients and promoting medical tourism in Ethiopia. However, progress has been hampered by various obstacles.
“The project has not proceeded according to the planned schedule,” Eshetu said, citing the intricate design, which incorporated input from numerous health specialists and designers, as a major factor in the delay. He confirmed that the committee will hand over the design, which has achieved 50 percent completion, along with materials and funds raised through telethons and sponsorships.
MP Yeshimebet Demise (PhD) acknowledged the Wollo community’s significant fundraising efforts for the hospital. “The people of Wollo have been instrumental in raising funds independently,” she said. However, the project’s delays prompted repeated appeals to the House of Peoples Representatives, leading to an operational audit.
Wollo University President Awol Seid (PhD) assured attendees that the university is committed to completing the project, aiming to create a symbol of the Wollo people’s resilience. He announced that government funding has been allocated.
The discussion also highlighted the completion of student and staff dormitories, currently accommodating over 1,500 undergraduate medical students, indicating some progress amidst the overall delays. The handover from the Charity Committee to Wollo University is expected to mark a new phase in the hospital’s development, with hopes of finally realizing its initial vision.
BY EYUEL KIFLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2025
