Ethiopian trauma surgeons take over hospital management

Helping people help themselves

“Training young Ethiopian doctors to become trauma surgeons is the key to sustainability for us!”

We are very proud that three of our local young doctors have successfully completed their studies as orthopedic trauma surgeons in recent months.

They have also taken on leadership responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic. This is a milestone for our GO STAR trauma center, which is the only point of contact for over 20 million people in southwestern Ethiopia with our range of treatments.

We will continue to supply all implants and equipment for effective bone surgery. Several times a year, our Swiss surgeons are on site, operating on complex cases together with Ethiopian orthopedic surgeons and ensuring quality and effectiveness.

Another milestone in the coming months will be the opening of our orthopedic training center in the new annex building. Here, we are tasked with organizing the hospital facilities and technical equipment for the operating rooms and transporting them to Ethiopia in a timely manner.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who actively supports our development project in Ethiopia. We would also like to thank you on behalf of our Ethiopian employees and our patients in Jimma.

Commissioning of the new hospital wing imminent

The commissioning of the new hospital wing with 75 patient beds, 3 operating rooms, and various ancillary rooms was scheduled for fall 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has also had a severe impact on social and economic life in Ethiopia. We are now planning to commission the wing in mid-2022. We are currently in the process of procuring the necessary furniture and equipment and organizing the challenging transport to Jimma. We are in contact with Swiss organizations and hospitals to obtain well-preserved used furniture and hospital equipment.

Dr. Bekele, you are a senior physician at Jimma Hospital. Please introduce yourself briefly.

My name is Mulugeta Bekele, born in 1990.

My basic medical studies lasted six years, and my additional studies to become a trauma surgeon took another three years. I completed my studies in 2020. Since then, I have been working as an orthopedic surgeon in the management team of the GO STAR project in Jimma.

When did you first hear about the GO STAR project, and when did you meet Pele?

In my fifth year of study and during my internship, I had the opportunity to meet Swiss doctors and work with them. That's when I met Dr. Pele (Dr. Jörg Peltzer) for the first time. I saw him perform complex and delicate bone surgeries. During this time, I assisted him with several surgeries for the first time.

GO STAR has been running the trauma surgery department in Jimma for over 10 years. How important do you think GO STAR's work in Jimma is, and what has been your experience of this collaboration?

GO STAR's work at Jimma University Hospital is very important. We learn modern, up-to-date treatment methods from the Swiss surgeons.

We receive high-quality, modern orthopedic implants, orthopedic sets, and other surgical equipment. This enables us to provide trauma surgery services to the southwestern part of Ethiopia, with an estimated population of more than 20 million people, and to many patients from South Sudan.

What can GO STAR improve?

There are still far too few orthopedic surgeons and trauma surgeons in Ethiopia. Our plan for the near future is to establish a training program for orthopedics at the hospital. We want to improve the quality of the services we provide. As always, we need the tireless support of GO STAR to achieve our goals.

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