The United States celebrated the opening of a new surgery ward in Soddo Christian General Hospital in Soddo City, Wolayita Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Since 2018, Soddo Christian General Hospital has received more than $1.45 million (77.5 million Birr) from USAID to build a new surgery ward, buy cutting-edge surgical equipment, and build a new medical residence building for faculty and residents. The American Schools and Hospitals Abroad initiative of USAID is responsible for providing funding for this project. Over 20,000 Ethiopians receive life-saving treatment at the hospital each year.
USAID/Ethiopia Deputy Mission Director Tim Stein stated at a ribbon-cutting and grand opening for the new surgery ward that “USAID currently spends over 12 billion Birr each year in Ethiopia to prevent maternal and child deaths.”
According to Stein, funding for the surgery ward is a part of USAID’s commitment to strengthening Ethiopia’s healthcare infrastructure and educating Ethiopian healthcare workers.
At the occasion, Ephrem Gebreselassie, the CEO of Soddo Christian Hospital, and Hon. Tesfaye Yigezu, the vice-president of the SNNPR, thanked USAID for its dedication to the Ethiopian people.
USAID provided more than $1.6 billion in humanitarian and development assistance to Ethiopia in 2022. This new endeavour is yet another illustration of how Ethiopian and American citizens can work together.
