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Residents expressed their happiness to receive services from Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, which due to the war, has not been providing medical services for a long period of time.
According to Mrs. Meremo Muhe and Mr. Abebe Abraham, whom we met getting service at the hospital, they were pleased to see the hospital doors open and the white gown wearing staffs caring for patients with smiles.
Mrs. Meremo, said that she had an appointment on December 4, 2021 at the hospital, but couldn’t be present due to the war. She testified that she was relieved to finally get examined and prescribed medication.
Mr. Abebe, who brought his sister to the hospital for a medical care, said that they have received the proper services and were awaiting the result of an X-ray. He also thanked God and the government for making this bright day possible.
The Medical Director of Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dr. Leoul Mesfin, said since the restoration of the hospital, they have provided 1,000 delivery services to mothers, out of which 153 were surgical deliveries.
Mr. Atnafu Mulugeta, a midwife at the hospital, said that the suffering of mothers and children does not give us a break to stop working due to lack of equipment. He added it was a relief to see the hospital running where up to 800 mothers a month receive delivery services.
The renowned Dessie Hospital, which also gives services to the residents around South Wollo, in Afar, Oromia Special Zone and North Shoa Zone, hosts up to 500,000 patients in a single year. According to the director, the hospital has lost more than 2-billion-birr worth of property during the war.
According to the proposed procedure of forming alliance among war-affected hospitals and supporting hospitals, St. Paul's Specialized Hospital has played a crucial role in reopening of Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital through donation of medical equipment and drugs, temporarily assigning doctors and other health professionals to Dessie hospital, as well as by coordinating the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency and other partner organizations for additional support.