Picking up the pieces

Its been a while since we were in touch with all our Desta friends and donors and a lot has happened in the meantime – we have just been too busy with it all to have been able to keep in touch! One of Desta Ethiopia’s latest projects has been helping to re-equip the Fresemaetat Primary Hospital in Howzien, Tigray.

The hospital, which serves a rural population of 120,000 over an area of 1,900 km, had been one of the best-equipped hospitals in the region before the outbreak of war in November 2000. Over the next two years it was systematically looted and vandalised by Eritrean forces, and even used as a military base over an eight month period. When we visited in September 2023 – just ten months after cessation of hostilities – the state of the hospital was utterly dispiriting. Windows were smashed, the interior of the hospital soiled, two huge storage units at the back of the hospital were crammed with smashed and useless equipment, and all the patient records had been destroyed.

With the gifts of our supporters, Desta Ethiopia has made a small but significant contribution to the restoration of the hospital’s services. We have supplied seven computers for the medical records unit, and a semi-automated chemical analyser which is already proving invaluable. The analyser enables clinical testing of biological samples (blood, urine etc.) to diagnose diseases, and monitor patient health and treatment effectiveness, particularly in the areas of neonatal care, chronic diabetes, hypertension and renal problems.

The provision of this vital equipment has been made possible by one-off donations, regular subscriptions, and small fund-raising events. Small contributions may seem insignificant but many small contributions add up and can really change – and save – lives. We intend to keep helping to build capacity at the hospital as long as your generosity makes it possible. We will keep you posted!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!