Comments on: A Doctor’s Memoir: Ethiopia’s Crumbling Health Care System

By: Tizita

Tizita — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:22:06 +0000

I was just at TAH for about 4 weeks and can certainly relate to the things said in the memoir! There a lot of us with similar optimism to change or see some improvement in the healthcare system of Ethiopia. The question is: How can we come together to do so? It would be nice to have some sort of a convention somewhere to discuss this topic.

Thank you Dr. Kebede for your insight!

By: Ethiopia: Skilled Diaspora Medics Arrive to Provide Medical Training at Tadias Magazine

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:28:54 +0000

[...] International Office of Migration (IOM) Photo: Tadias file – A Doctor’s Memoir: Ethiopia’s Crumbling Health Care System [...]

By: Girum

Girum — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:12:50 +0000

Dear Sosina,

I stumbled to this site today while I was searching for any thing on the hematology/oncology services in Ethiopia. I was mesmerized by your memoir. I went through it. It looks like I am late to read about you. I want to thank you very much for your time, the memoir ( which I think could potentialy a book) and your positive out look in general on Ethiopia. It is inspiring. I can see myself in the hallway of Black lion hospital soon. If you are holding a public forum or event of any sort on this topic I will be very to attend.

Thank you and God bless!

Girum
Indianapolis,IN

By: Fekadu

Fekadu — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:54:15 +0000

Dr.Sosena,
Before anything else, I would like to thank you for taking your precious time
to see what Black Lion Hospital looks like.Here in the US, there are a number of Ethiopians and Ethio-American professionals.If we come together, at least
in areas of our specialization, we can bring a difference.United we stand divided we fall.

I thank you again

By: Dr. Timir Banerjee MD FACS

Dr. Timir Banerjee MD FACS — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:41:17 +0000

There are several of us, neurosurgeons, that work at Black Lion Hospital. We are trying to develop the program. We are all members of AANS. The doctors and the nurses are most compassionate and work very hard under trying circumstances. The local business establishments should participate to help out so the general public can be helped.

By: Beza

Beza — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:15:19 +0000

It’s me again. I would like to add that as much as the drawbacks of the health care system are worrisome and need to be addressed, it should also come to everyone’s attention that there are several practitioners working at TAH who go out of their way to help their clients and serve the profession. I’ve seen seniors pay for their patients’ CT scans and MRIs, I’ve seen interns donate blood on an emergency basis to save their patients’ lives and it’s really not uncommon to see residents, interns or even students dig into their pockets to help out their patients get some stuff. So it’s not all too dim and these are the benevolent gestures that promise a better future in the profession.
Thanks.

By: Beza

Beza — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:42:12 +0000

First of all, I would like to express my utmost pleasure going through such an articulate and genuine memoir.
I am a final year med student at TAH. Studying medicine anywhere in the world is a challenge on its own. For me, one of the difficult times so far has been the transitional stage between pre clinical (two years of basic sciences, labs…) and clinical years. Right when I started my clinical attachments to the wards a year and something back, I was downright shocked at most of the stuff Sosena’s already given an account on. (Yeah maybe I’ll be telling my own share of encounters and experiences some day…) All this time, my struggle has been not only to successfully pursue my studies and get good grades but also to salvage myself from the progressive loss of hope and compassion that is usually witnessed among students as they advance in their clinical years. As already mentioned in the memoir, the lack of proper customer service in the whole infrastructure of TAH is another day to day challenge. I believe the use of the ‘untapped resources’ will definitely make all the difference in there and these are just simple acts of humanity requiring no training or extra effort. But the lax supervisional system of the faculty, in my opinion, also allows for careless behaviour to surface(this is no excuse for the problems but I see it as a contributory factor) Instilling acts and gestures of good will in the minds of future professionals is also very crucial if this situation is to change for the better. Sadly, there is lesser and lesser amount of effort exerted by the faculty towards reinforcing control and achieving a sense of accountability among practitioners and other staff. To sum up, given the economical, technological and man power constraints the hospital already faces, I’m sure it would benefit a lot from adopting a professional environment and using its ‘untapped resources’. As for myself, I guess it’s just in me to care, empathize and show compassion during my practice and I don’t feel so threatened any more. I even hope to be able to ‘leaven up the entire dough’?!
P.S. Sosena, I would very much like to work with you whenever you come back to TAH. My email is bezzitina@yahoo.com. Thanks

By: Senai

Senai — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:05:35 +0000

I am a first year medical student here in the U.S. Before I came to the U.S I was junior in School of Pharmacy at Addis Ababa University. As I read this piece, sentence by sentence, I felt that I am living the life in Addis (and Addis Ababa University) all over again. Part of the reason I am in medical school is to contribute to such kind of needy society. While I still don’t know when and how exactly I do that, your writing is a true reinforcement to my dream.

By: Bruck Fikru

Bruck Fikru — Wed, 02 May 2007 12:08:05 +0000

Sosena,

This is an extremely important topic. I hope others will follow in your footsteps and write about their impressions and aspirations.

What is your personal vision for Ethiopia’s health system?

And what is the vision of Ethiopia’s htalth professionals for their country’s health system?

More stories need to be told. A coherent vision has yet to be articulated.

best wishes,
Bruck

By: Myliham

Myliham — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:53:05 +0000

Dr. Kebede,
What a powerful Memoir, which I think should be expanded into a book. I just couldn’t help but feel sad at the state of health care in Ethiopia. No wonder, why Ethiopia is derailed with Brian Drain, especially those in the Health Field.

I hope, besides sharing your powerful story with your readers, you will have a discussion amongst the Diaspora Ethiopian doctors/health practitioners and and perhaps people can come together and address this issue. Bless you!

Myliham

By: Martha

Martha — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:19:35 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and I am glad to see you volunteering your time in Ethiopia. Now, I would love to learn about your encounter with the nurses. How do you find their role in the Ethiopian Health care system? And do you feel similar reinforcement is needed with the nurses as it is needed with the doctors?

Thank you

By: Stephani

Stephani — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:59:42 +0000

Well done on your efforts. Your presence has given the doctors in the country a boost of energy and optimism, I think your efforts will be greatly appreciated by many.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Stephani