Our Mission
Mission
The mission of Soddo Christian Hospital is to share the love of Christ by providing compassionate and excellent medical care and training African health care professionals.
Vision
To advance the kingdom of God by becoming the hospital of choice for patients and health care professionals in the Horn of Africa.
Core Values
Honesty
Excellence
Attitude
Responsibility
Teamwork
- Honesty: We value transparency, integrity, and open communication in all our interactions.
- Excellence: We strive for excellence in every aspect of our medical care, education, and service delivery.
- Attitude: We maintain a positive and compassionate attitude, treating every individual with respect and dignity.
- Responsibility: We take responsibility for our actions, decisions, and the impact we have on the lives of those we serve.
- Teamwork: We foster a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork, mutual support, and effective partnerships.
Facilities
With a total of 171 beds spread across four wards and an ICU, Soddo Christian Hospital offers a comprehensive range of medical services. Our dedicated medical team provides specialized care in areas such as medical, surgical (including orthopedic and general), maternity, and pediatric care. The hospital features an emergency clinic, outpatient clinic rooms, as well as optometry and dental clinics. Moreover, our surgical department is equipped with eight state-of-the-art operating rooms. To facilitate accurate diagnostics, our radiology department proudly offers digital x-ray, ultrasound, and a 16-slice CT scanner.
Location
Soddo Christian Hospital is situated in the city of Soddo, located in southwestern Ethiopia. With a population of approximately 200,000 people, Soddo serves as the center of the Wolaitta region, which is home to around 2.5 million inhabitants. This region is characterized by high population density and significant levels of poverty. Despite these challenges, Soddo Christian Hospital remains committed to serving the healthcare needs of the local community and beyond.
We desire to preach the Gospel in a relational environment. At Soddo Christian Hospital, we take care of patients of all backgrounds and all religions. We hope to demonstrate the Gospel with compassionate and loving care, and to share with our patients the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We are actively making disciples among our employees, our residents, and our patients through Bible study and living the Christian life together. We believe that the most effective transformation happens as we cultivate Christ-honoring relationships. We are committed to one another and to living a life of integrity and transparency.
Our History
In the 1970s, Soddo was home to a Christian mission hospital located in an area called Otona, situated uphill from the town. At that time, Dr. Harold Adolph, a missionary surgeon from the United States, resided in Soddo with his family and served as the sole surgeon at the hospital. However, in 1974, a political coup in Ethiopia resulted in Communist rule, leading the government to assume control of the hospital and forcing many missionaries to depart.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Adolph nurtured a deep desire to establish another mission hospital in Soddo, where both physical and spiritual healing would be facilitated in the name of Jesus Christ. In 1987, when Ethiopia regained its freedom, Dr. Adolph received an invitation from his Ethiopian friend, Dr. Kelemu Desta, to pursue God’s calling and transform this dream into reality. Together, they sought the support of individuals and organizations in the USA and Europe, leading to the establishment of St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit based in the US.
Through the faithful provision of God, funds were raised, and a new hospital was constructed in Soddo with the explicit intention of glorifying Him. In January 2005, Soddo Christian Hospital opened its doors, embarking on a journey to provide compassionate and comprehensive healthcare.
Since its inception, Soddo Christian Hospital has touched the lives of over 331,000 patients, performing more than 68,000 operations and facilitating the safe delivery of over 10,000 babies. We continue to uphold our mission of providing high-quality medical care while spreading the love and hope of Jesus Christ to the people we serve.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is located in the eastern corner of the African continent, known as “the horn of Africa.” With a population of over 107 million inhabitants, it remains the second most populous country on the continent. Ethiopia continues to be one of the fastest-growing nations in the world, with an annual population growth rate approaching 2.46%.
Poverty and inadequate sanitation remain significant challenges in Ethiopia. The country has often been included in the list of the world’s poorest nations (ranked 21st in 2017). More than three-quarters of the population live on less than one dollar per day, and the per capita income in 2017 was $1,916.
In terms of health indicators, Ethiopia lags behind on almost every measure. The lifetime risk of maternal death, related to pregnancy, for a child-bearing female is one in sixteen (compared to approximately one in 2,800 in the developed West). Maternal deaths due to childbirth are unfortunately common in Ethiopia, contrasting with the experience of most people in the Western world who rarely encounter such tragedies. The country also faces a high infant mortality rate, with 42 deaths before the age of one per 1,000 live births (ranking 165th out of 182 countries).
Soddo, located 330km south of Addis Ababa at the edge of the Great Rift Valley, offers a picturesque setting with an elevation of 7,400 feet. The city is surrounded by misty green mountains, creating a moderate and pleasant climate. The driest and hottest season in Soddo occurs between October and April, with temperatures ranging from 52 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The period from May to September is relatively more moderate, with temperatures reaching around 70 degrees. Soddo experiences two rainy seasons: one from February to March and another from May to September.
St. Luke's Health Care Foundation
St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation, headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare in Ethiopia. The Foundation plays a crucial role in the ownership, operation, and funding of Soddo Christian Hospital, a private limited company located in Soddo, Wolaitta, Ethiopia.
Our Board of Directors envisioned the establishment of Soddo Christian Hospital as a leading medical training center that addresses the healthcare needs of the Ethiopian population. With its strategic location, the Soddo Christian Hospital is a regional, national and international training hub for medical professionals from across Africa. As a testament to its excellence, Soddo Christian Hospital is honored to be selected as one of only sixteen surgical resident training sites in Africa for the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons.