For five long years—virtually her entire life—a five-year-old girl named Haset waited for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery at a crowded hospital in Ethiopia's capital. Her long wait finally ended not in the capital, but at Debre Berhan Hospital, located about 130 kilometers away. Haset became the first pediatric patient to receive surgery under a newly launched medical initiative, spotlighting the enduring legacy of a hospital that has served as a healthcare anchor for decades.

A lifeline extended across decades

In 1993, Ethiopia was reeling from the devastating combined effects of severe drought, widespread famine, and prolonged civil war. Medical resources throughout the country were critically scarce, leaving millions without access to basic healthcare. To address this crisis, the Tzu Chi Foundation partnered with Médecins du Monde (MDM) for a three-year medical assistance program. Recognizing the profound ongoing need, the two organizations signed a subsequent collaboration agreement in 1998 to expand Debre Berhan Hospital, a public facility positioned to serve a vast rural population.

The extensive construction project took two years to complete. On May 30, 2000, the newly built operating rooms, radiology department, and outpatient department officially opened. Crucially, the project also upgraded the hospital’s core infrastructure, including its water and electricity supply systems, which laid a stable foundation for long-term operations. At the time of its inauguration, the hospital was equipped to serve approximately 1.8 million people.

Expanding care to meet growing needs

Twenty-six years later, those original buildings remain fully operational. Dr. Tefera, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, recently shared an update on the facility's status, noting that the Tzu Chi logo still stands clearly on the exterior walls. As the regional population has surged over the decades, the hospital’s service area has expanded dramatically. It now provides care to more than 3 million residents and stands as the only comprehensive referral hospital in the surrounding region, managing a heavy daily influx of patients in its outpatient and radiology departments.

I am here to represent our institution and all the people receiving services to express our deepest gratitude to the Tzu Chi Foundation. — Dr. Tefera, Chief Medical Officer

Restoring health to vulnerable children

The long-standing relationship with local healthcare providers took on a new dimension in 2023. Tzu Chi began collaborating with Kidmia Ethiopia, a local charity, to provide support for refugees. Through this partnership, vulnerable patients requiring advanced medical attention are regularly referred to Debre Berhan Hospital for treatment.

To further strengthen specialized care for youth, a new initiative was launched at the start of 2026. Tzu Chi began subsidizing weekly pediatric subspecialty clinics at the hospital. These clinics bring specialized care in ENT, cardiology, and hematology-oncology directly to young patients who otherwise would have to travel long distances or face indefinite wait times.

The impact of this program has been immediate:

• Patient Volume: By May 2026, the subspecialty clinics provided 797 outpatient consultations.
• Surgical Care: Medical teams successfully performed 180 surgeries for children during these five months.
• First Beneficiary: Five-year-old Haset, who had been on a capital city waiting list for five years, was the very first child to undergo a successful procedure under the project.

The revitalization of these medical services ensures that the infrastructure built over a quarter of a century ago continues to evolve, adapting to the urgent health needs of a growing population. By bridging gaps in specialized pediatric care, the hospital continues to fulfill its vital role as a sanctuary of healing and safety for millions of families across the region.

Edited by Yu-chen Pan (潘俞臻)