The work of St. Mary Catholic Primary Hospital, Dubbo, Ethiopia
Maternal and child health care is crucial in the community we serve due to the high rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, exacerbated by poverty, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate education. In Boloso Sore Woreda, South Ethiopia, where 83% of the population resides in rural and densely populated areas, these challenges are particularly pronounced. Many families struggle to access essential medical services due to poor infrastructure and a lack of awareness about available healthcare options, resulting in compromised health outcomes.
Our work aims to bring the love of Christ to the people by addressing the challenges faced by some of the most vulnerable in the communities we serve. We do this by providing comprehensive maternal and child health (MCH) services, including:
- Antenatal Care (ANC)
- Postnatal Care (PNC)
- Labor and Delivery Services
- Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)
- Immunization
- Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment
From January to December 2024, we achieved significant milestones:
- ANC First Visit: 2,647
- ANC Fourth Visit: 2,030
- ANC Eighth Visit: 1,662
- Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment: 2,812
- Immunization: 552
- Postnatal Care: 2,010
- Deliveries: 1,996
- NICU: 400
- Pediatrics: 3,100
To achieve this, we collaborate with various stakeholders, including Cabrini Ministries Ethiopia. This partnership allows us to provide support for babies diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, who are admitted to St. Mary Hospital for medical treatment. After their discharge, those requiring further rehabilitation are referred to the Malnutrition Rehabilitation Centre of Cabrini Ministries Ethiopia, where children receive appropriate nutritional support.
Despite challenges such as high inflation due to the devaluation of the Ethiopian Birr and limited financial resources to support free services, we have seen notable successes. A significant step was introducing cost-sharing for delivery services to alleviate financial strain. We are particularly proud of the opening of our NICU three years ago, which has saved the lives of many neonates and reduced the inconvenience and cost of referrals to higher facilities for the community. Additionally, our MCH services have been upraised through outreach programs, including school health initiatives.
Our outreach program efforts have further engaged the community, building trust between health workers and families. By empowering parents with knowledge and resources, we aim to promote healthier behaviors that ultimately transforms community health where mothers and children receive timely, quality care, leading to healthier families and stronger communities.
St. Mary Catholic Primary Hospital, Dubbo – Success in our NICU Department
“The Remarkable Journey of Baby Mathew”
Baby Mathew was born at gestational week 26, weighing only 0.6 kg and he was having difficulties in breathing due to lung immaturity. Baby Mathew was immediately transferred from the delivery ward to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and upon his arrival oxygen was administered immediately. 60 days after admission, Mathew managed to breathe on his own and his weight increased to 1.2 kg.
After 3 months he was transferred to our Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Unit where he reached 2.5 kg and could finally go home!
Thanks to the neonatal care he got from St Mary Hospital, Mathew is now a one-year boy with normal growth parameters.
Without our intensive care, under the law of Ethiopia, this baby would have been considered as a spontaneous abortion because he was born at less than 28 weeks of gestational period.
We are grateful to be a part of such stories of life, and we thank everyone who has helped us in setting-up and running our neonatal care unit.
Cabrini Health Updates – March 2025
~ Thanks to Cabrini Ministries Ethiopia for this article.