Through Ethiopia Link, (our short-hand name for the Glan Clwyd-Hossana link), staff at Glan Clwyd hospital and other well-wishers have helped fund a number of infrastructure projects in Hossana hospital, and we are grateful to all those many people that have given their time, expertise and financial support. Projects have been decided on jointly by the Hossana hospital management board and the Ethiopia Link group, and have included:
Sorting the staff quarters:
Jointly with the Clinton Foundation we funded refurbishment of the staff residences at Hossana hospital (£5,000 contribution from Ethiopia Link); this included painting throughout, repairing doors and windows, and replacing the toilets and showers.
The lift in the hospital:
Ethiopia Link arranged and funded a professional review of the elevator in the hospital by two international experts and with Ethiopian specialists. Hossana is
a 4 storey hospital, and the elevator had not been used since the hospital first opened. This poses a problem for getting sick patients to the upper floors. The elevator proved to be in surprisingly good condition despite not having worked for almost 30 years – or perhaps because it had not been used. After some careful technical work,the team got the elevator going again; however it was decided not to take this project further at present due to the frequent power cuts. However, should the electricity supply improve, there is now a clear costed plan for what would be required to re-instate it.
Incinerators:
Ethiopia Link funded the building of two new incinerators to replace broken ones. Clinical waste needs to be burnt in incinerators to eliminate infection risk, and the previous incinerators were very old, and non-functioning. This meant that clinical waste was having to be burnt in open pits, which is insanitary. Ethiopia Link funded construction of two more incinerators designed by Ato Yeshanew, sanitarian at Hossana.
Washstand:
Ethiopia Link funded building of a washstand for relatives to use for washing patients’ clothes. Prior to this being built, relatives only had the grass on which to wash their clothes. The wash-stand is a natural gathering site for relatives to congregate.
Back-up generator:
Ethiopia Link purchased a small diesel generator to provide power for lighting in theatre during power cuts. Operating at night – a fairly common occurrence in Hossana hospital due to the frequent emergencies – was plagued by power cuts, which plunged the operating theatres into darkness. Torches had to be used; so a small diesel generator was purchased to come on immediately during power cuts.
Placenta Pit: Ethiopia Link funded the building of a placenta pit, designed once again by Ato Yeshanew, the sanitarian in Hossana. This allows safe disposal of placental tissue that previously had gone into an open pit.
Sorting the staff quarters:
Jointly with the Clinton Foundation we funded refurbishment of the staff residences at Hossana hospital (£5,000 contribution from Ethiopia Link); this included painting throughout, repairing doors and windows, and replacing the toilets and showers.
The lift in the hospital:
Ethiopia Link arranged and funded a professional review of the elevator in the hospital by two international experts and with Ethiopian specialists. Hossana is
a 4 storey hospital, and the elevator had not been used since the hospital first opened. This poses a problem for getting sick patients to the upper floors. The elevator proved to be in surprisingly good condition despite not having worked for almost 30 years – or perhaps because it had not been used. After some careful technical work,the team got the elevator going again; however it was decided not to take this project further at present due to the frequent power cuts. However, should the electricity supply improve, there is now a clear costed plan for what would be required to re-instate it.
Incinerators:
Ethiopia Link funded the building of two new incinerators to replace broken ones. Clinical waste needs to be burnt in incinerators to eliminate infection risk, and the previous incinerators were very old, and non-functioning. This meant that clinical waste was having to be burnt in open pits, which is insanitary. Ethiopia Link funded construction of two more incinerators designed by Ato Yeshanew, sanitarian at Hossana.
Washstand:
Ethiopia Link funded building of a washstand for relatives to use for washing patients’ clothes. Prior to this being built, relatives only had the grass on which to wash their clothes. The wash-stand is a natural gathering site for relatives to congregate.
Back-up generator:
Ethiopia Link purchased a small diesel generator to provide power for lighting in theatre during power cuts. Operating at night – a fairly common occurrence in Hossana hospital due to the frequent emergencies – was plagued by power cuts, which plunged the operating theatres into darkness. Torches had to be used; so a small diesel generator was purchased to come on immediately during power cuts.
Placenta Pit: Ethiopia Link funded the building of a placenta pit, designed once again by Ato Yeshanew, the sanitarian in Hossana. This allows safe disposal of placental tissue that previously had gone into an open pit.
