Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

Donation of essential equipment and instruments

Health centres

During the visits in March and November 2008 the link donated to the three health centres cleaning materials; safety equipment for staff; essential obstetric plus surgical equipment and instruments; BP apparatuses; weighing machines; microscopes; delivery couches; baby cots; generators; eye instruments; children’s toys and pictures. In each health centre the link also donated training wall charts, training materials including manikins, overhead projectors and training CDs.

In the discussions with the community leaders and the health centre staff the recurring theme was serious problem in transport of critically ill patients. Motorbike ambulance already used in other African countries seemed to be the ideal solution compared to four wheel ambulances due to the low initial and maintenance cost, ease of training,  and more importantly being user friendly in the difficult terrain and improper road surface. The link managed to purchase two motorbike ambulances, one each for Alaba and Wondogenet health centres thus introducing motorbike ambulances for the first time in Ethiopia. The link also arranged training of local health works in safe use and maintenance of these vehicles.

Hawasssa Hospital

The link donated phototherapy, exchange transfusion sets for the neonatal unit; oxygen concentrators; surgical instruments; obstetric, surgical, anaesthetic and paediatric equipment; patient trolleys. The link also donated teaching materials including manikins for the skills lab previously established by the link. The link members helped setting up the very first histopathology service in this hospital with very first frozen section service in Ethiopia.

Fund raising efforts

In the early part of the year there were concerns in the link about funding for all the proposed activities for 2008, especially as no grants were available. However the link members responded to the challenge and managed to raise sufficient funds through celidih and curry evening, sponsored Marathon, triathlon running, climbing Mount Kinnabalu,  Garden open day, sponsored horse racing night, bag packing in superstores, concerts, pay roll giving and many personal donations. The link received generous support from THET for its evaluation and monitoring activities. THET also helped the link by finding a generous sponsor in Christadelphian meal a day fund for one of the motorbike ambulances donated to the health centre by the link.

Highlights of the link’s achievements in 2008 has been signing ‘memorandum of understanding’ with three large rural communities to work together to improve healthcare and being able to respond to the communities urgent need in safe transfer of critically ill patients through introducing motorbike ambulance for the first time in Ethiopia.

In 2008 the link received Gold star Communities award from the Welsh Assembly for its inspired contribution towards linking communities in Wales and southern Ethiopia. Possibly even more satisfying recognition for the link in 2008 was to see the progress of the health officers’ skills training in Ethiopia. The link pioneered in the country CME programme for the health officers in 2002 and initiated development of a National task force for the non doctor health force in 2005. As a result an MSc course in Emergency Surgery and Obstetrics for the health officers has now started in 2008 which will not only ensure their skills training but a stable career structure. The links contribution to the health care delivery and in training of the health workers for the population in SNNPR of Ethiopia is fully recognized by the health department, the health science college and the community.

Recognition of the link could possibly be best summarized in the quotation from the letter to the link from the Wondogenet health centre staff in 2008 

‘We are very much pleased to work with you as a partner. You have been showing us how to work and help our poor community with essential items and building up our skills and knowledge. We promise to do our best with what you have provided for us and would like to say thank you very much for the friendship and support.’