Ethiopia and ABWE Canada

The Spiritual Need in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country of incredible natural beauty, a rich history and resilient, warm people. It is also a nation with great needs. Droughts, famine and unrest have exacted an immense price on the 100 million persons who call this east African country home. Most Ethiopians follow the teachings of Islam or the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, although other minority faiths are also represented.

Ethiopia’s patient-to-physician ratio is greater than 30,000:1, and in rural areas, these statistics are even more sobering. Very high maternal and infant mortality rates have declined as intensive efforts to meet the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals have been implemented. Parents have been encouraged to birth their babies at hospitals or health centers and to have their infants and children immunized. To help meet the country’s health challenges, the Ministry of Health is also working to increase the numbers of health care providers in all disciplines. As part of this initiative, new medical schools have opened, class sizes have grown, and new residency programs are being developed.

ABWE Canada in Ethiopia

ABWE Canada believes in investing in physicians who view medicine as a calling and discipleship as a way of life. ABWE Canada currently is sharing personnel with Soddo Christian Hospital, (SCH), located in southwestern Ethiopia. The hospital is operated in conjunction with St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation in Wheaton, Ill. Mentoring and discipling of medical professionals is already a top priority of the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons, (PAACS). In Ethiopia, this program is a joint venture between SCH and Myung Sung Christian Medical Center and Medical College in Addis Ababa. Christian residency programs to train family physicians and orthopedic surgeons will hopefully begin in early 2017. Physicians committed to excellent clinical care and effective medical education have great opportunities to serve, learn and teach with an international Christian medical team. Currently the training programs’ greatest needs are for surgical specialists, particularly an obstetrician/gynecologist.

Is God calling you to share His love with the people of Ethiopia through compassionate health care and innovative medical education?