Soddo Christian Hospital

We are staying on the Soddo Christian Hospital compound while we are here in the South. I met my friend Dr. Ruth here many years ago and we have spent time together in her native Netherlands, in the States, and even in the Dominican Republic. 

When we adopted Nebeyou, she was just crazy enough to let the kids and I spend a month with her. I've done many blog posts about Ruth in the past, which are here, and this is my favorite photo of her, taken far from here at a rural clinic.

Nebeyou's and my last trip over was to attend and photograph her wedding, to another doctor, Mogus, who is now in his 3rd year surgical residency. 

I can hardly believe they already have three lovely children!

The kids love Nebeyou and one of them kept asking Ruth, "Where is Neighborhood?" I can see where he got it - from her Dutch accent - and I think it may stick.

So, both Ruth's family and the hospital have grown tremendously in the past years. It is one of three hospitals that serve an area of about 3 million people in this zone, but many more come from as far as Kenya to be seen here, and you may see people with interesting tribal clothing when you walk the grounds. 

Patients relaxing on the grounds outside one of the surgical wards.

One of the things I particularly like are the flowers. Early on, it was decided that keeping the hospital grounds beautiful would help people heal, and I do believe it must. It is just so lovely here, it lifts your spirits when you come in the gate. The doctors who live on the compound also have large vegetable gardens, and fruit trees like avocado, banana, fig and mango. Now, there is an ambulance, generators, clean water, internet (often) and even a playground for the kids. There is also a school on the grounds that teaches English to local children. 

Nebeyou flipping on the playground

Hospital personnel receive meals when working. Some of the women who work in the kitchen used to work at the orphanage and remember Nebyeou well - so he received many kisses today when they saw him. 

Today, I took photos of a new CAT scanner, donated to the hospital by Norwegians and managed by radiologist Dr. Karl, also Norwegian, but who speaks Amharic like a native. The patient being scanned in the photos had a very serious condition that could possibly be helped with major open heart surgery, which is not possible, but they are able to diagnose and monitor him and help him in other ways, thanks to this technology. 

Dr. Karl Roth

And here are some other photos from the hospital.

Nurse Ruth, from Germany, with an accident patient she has been
helping for 3 months. He did not mind sharing his photo.

Patient receiving care in the ICU. Families stay
very close when someone is in the hospital.

Nurses in the ICU folding bandages and updating records.