I will be based at Abi Adi Hospital, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. It is at an altitude of 2,200m and two days by bus from Addis Ababa. It has a population of 140,000 people and facilities are supposed to be good, with the area known to be safe. It’s a really beautiful part of the country with a proud history.
In Ethiopia only 10.8% of babies are delivered by a skilled professional and only 34% of women receive antenatal care. The maternal mortality rate is 676 per 100,000 live births (compared with 12 per 100,000 in the UK), this is a shocking difference. The major causes of maternal death are obstructed labour, ruptured uterus, severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and complications related to abortion. Common problems in Ethiopia are things that I will rarely see in the UK.
I will be sharing my skills and knowledge with the staff at Abi Adi hospital, with the aim to improve obstetric (pregnancy and childbirth) care and strengthening services. Other than the training aspect of my role, I will essentially be doing the job I do at home (usual medical duties, delivering babies, operating etc), but in a developing country with significantly less resources. I will be working with people suffering from a wide range of diseases, which no longer exists in the UK due to medical advancements. I hope that my skills can be put to good use and am sure that I will return to the UK a better Doctor.
I will be working with the staff at Abi Adi hospital, teaching them new techniques and hopefully improving practice where I can. I will be looking after Ethiopian women and helping to deliver healthy babies. Many of my patients come from the poorest communities and may live far from the hospital. I am under no illusions and know that it will be a challenging experience but welcome the opportunity to give something back.
