The Enat Hospital in Alem Katema
The county seat of Alem Katema in Merhabete County is a rapidly growing sub-center, having increased in population from approximately 4,000 to 35,000 in the last 30 years. The surrounding county has over 140,000 inhabitants, predominantly rural, consisting of small farmers and day laborers.
The area in and around Alem Katema was one of the first project areas in Ethiopia for the aid organization "Menschen für Menschen (MfM)," founded by Karlheinz Böhm. Their work there concluded in 2008. In addition to schools, social projects, and infrastructure initiatives, MfM built the Enat Hospital in Alem Katema. It has 70 beds and began operating in 2004. Since MfM's withdrawal, the hospital has been dependent on meager public funding.
The demands placed on the hospital have developed dynamically since then. Not only has the population grown, but also the catchment area. The number of patients was estimated at 300,000 in 2018. However, the facilities still largely consist of the initial equipment and are quantitatively insufficient.
Despite all this, in 2014 the Ethiopian Ministry of Health recognized the hospital as one of the best in the country – undoubtedly a testament to the dedication of the medical staff under Dr. Ayele, the former director. Finally, in September 2020, Enat Hospital was upgraded to a leading hospital, a "General Hospital," which also expanded its catchment area.
The hospital is therefore facing enormous challenges. It expects patient numbers to rise to between 1 and 1.5 million per year. The number of beds should be increased to 110. At the same time, buildings and facilities must be modernized and expanded. Diagnostics and treatment should be brought up to current and appropriate standards.
Despite major challenges, we have been able to provide targeted and effective assistance in recent years:
On-site medical missions
2012: A team led by plastic surgeon Dr. Schoeneich performed necessary surgeries to treat injuries resulting from accidents and congenital malformations.
2013: Specialists from Germany—including nursing staff and medical experts—provided direct on-site support to the hospital.
Sustainable projects
2013: Launch of the “One-Dollar-Glasses” project to provide affordable eyeglasses. Our association was able to finance the entire initial supply.
Equipment and Medical Technology
2018/2019: Delivery of a total of 71 hospital beds as well as additional nursing and medical equipment (including X-ray technology, fetal monitors, and wheelchairs).
The shipments were funded by “Engagement Global.”
2020: Additional medical supplies to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021/2022: Delivery of two ultrasound machines to improve diagnostics.
Our goal is a strong hospital partnership!
The management of Enat Hospital, led by Alebachew Abiwey and Dr. Ayele Teshome, is seeking a funding partnership with a hospital in Germany to sustainably strengthen expertise, equipment, and the quality of care.
Programs of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BIZ) support such collaborations through “Engagement Global” to promote precisely these hospital partnerships.