History
Here's how the Soddo Christian Hospital got started ...
Vision
Our vision was to establish a private not-for-profit hospital in Wolaitta, Ethiopia, as a medical training center that will minister to the needs of the people in Ethiopia. It is a fee-for-service private hospital, currently a sizable percentage of our patients are cared for by donations to our benevolence fund. It is amazing what can be accomplished with your donation. The cost of a minor surgey is approximately $75.00. No one is turned away, although our goal is to be self supporting.
Due to its strategic location we also hope to use it as a training center for medical workers in Pan African countries.
Project Description
The SODDO CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL of Wolaitta Soddo is established as a private limited company medical center institution under the ownership of the St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation of Winfield, Illinois, for helping the people of Ethiopia. Since January, 2005, the nonprofit facility has provided compassionate medical and surgical care in the name of Jesus Christ. The hospital is located in Soddo, the hub of the Wolaitta region of nearly 3 million people.
Soddo, a city of roughly 80,000 people in southwestern
The purpose of the institution is to supply severely needed health care in a compassionate, and sacrificing manner with the utmost quality, industry and integrity.
What has the Project Already Accomplished?
- In January 2005 we opened our first 120 beds for inpatient treatment.
- Eleven of sixteen major hospital buildings are finished. These include the; A. Surgical wing with four operating rooms: B. The emergency department with X-ray, laboratory and intensive care departments: C. Two surgical wards: D. A maternity unit: E. A pediatric ward: F. A building which houses the kitchen, staff dining, laundry and morgue and chapel: G. A generator house: maintenance and storage container building eye clinic, staff educational center, pharmacy: and F. Two staff expatriate houses and three duplex units.
- An eye training center building for the treatment of the poor with preventable blindness is open. Our first three Ethiopian doctors have been accepted for a 4 and 5 year advanced eye surgical training. An eye team of specialists have come to the hospital regularly, twice a year especially for the treatment of the poor.
- Mossy Foot patients receive preventative treatment at the hospital.
- We have had visiting specialists with us for training and updating our staff. They have been in the specialties of anesthesiology, general surgery, laparoscopy, nursing, urology, geriatric medicine, laboratory science, biomedical engineering, X-ray, sterilization, electric generators and electrical systems, dentistry, engineering, architecture and computer science.
- A good water supply was located 127 meters below the surface with a very good water flow.
- Fourteen large sea containers and one truck have brought equipment and supplies from Switzerland and the United States.
- We have had a European director based in Switzerland whose principle work is fund raising for construction and the acquisition of equipment.
- We have developed partner relationships with The Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons, The Myung International Development Plc Medical Center for surgical residency rotations in anesthesiology and neurosurgery, Medical Ministries International for eye ministry and eye residencies, and Samaritan's Purse assists with advice and supplies and expatriate staff monthly support.
- Dr Sharon Morad has joined the hospital and is working maternity and women's health issues and also training staff in mid-wifery.
- Real Life Ministries, http://www.reallifeministries.com, is assisting with discipleship training and monthly benevolence support.