St. Luke’s Hospital in Wolisso marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter of a century dedicated to providing care for the most vulnerable and training the next generation of health professionals through its attached nursing and midwifery school.
In December 2000, both the hospital and the nursing and midwifery school became fully operational, launching a collaboration that would transform access to healthcare across the South West Shoa Zone, a region of around 1.24 million people.
To mark this milestone during the Jubilee Year, Doctors with Africa CUAMM held a commemorative ceremony attended by notable guests, including Mons. Giuseppe Andrea Salvatore Baturi – Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), Lukas Teshome Fikre – Bishop of Endebe, Don Dante Carraro – Director General of Medici con l’Africa Cuamm, along with representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and regional health authorities from Oromia.
“We are delighted to celebrate 25 years of St. Luke’s Hospital, a milestone made possible thanks to the community, the Church, and the generosity of many supporters. Today we celebrate, but above all, we reaffirm our commitment to serving the most vulnerable, especially mothers and newborns, to further reduce maternal and infant mortality,” said Don Dante Carraro – CUAMM Director General during the ceremony.
The hospital’s construction was made possible through the joint efforts of the Oromia Regional Office for Emergency Prevention and Management, the Oromia Health Bureau, and the Ethiopian Catholic Church. It was conceived as a response to a severe lack of healthcare services: in the 350-km stretch between Addis Ababa and Jimma, no hospitals or qualified training institutions existed at the time.
“This hospital is like life itself,” said Mons. Baturi – President of the Episcopal Conference of Italt (CEI). “We helped it come to life, and now we want to continue helping it grow. We thank all those involved in its management. Our faith calls us to share charity with the community, building a new world where children can be born safely and women and young people can grow up healthy.”
From the outset, the project was ambitious: for the first time, local authorities were asked to consider a public-private non-profit partnership with the Ethiopian Catholic Church. Another unique aspect is Ethiopia’s religious geography, which makes St. Luke’s a notable point for ecumenical growth, fostering dialogue, respect, patience, and collaboration for the common good.
“St. Luke’s will continue to be rooted in the health system, providing care for those most in need in a climate of peace, justice, and hope. Updating the school will improve student skills and competencies, with professional exchanges both within Ethiopia and abroad. We aim for quality, equity, and sustainable health financing to advance universal health coverage. The future will be the ‘new face’ of the hospital: the next 25 years begin today!” said Bishop Lukas Teshome Fikre.
From the very beginning, CUAMM has supported the hospital and school with the dual aim of strengthening health systems and training local professionals, fostering strong Italy-Ethiopia cooperation. Over the years, this exchange has included programs for medical students and residents. Since 2002, 342 students have participated in the SISM program, and 86 residents have completed six-month placements at St. Luke’s.
From its early years, St. Luke’s Hospital has been recognized for its focus on maternal and child health and community medicine. Today, the hospital is a regional referral center, with 163 beds, an emergency department, medical and surgical wards, and a maternity ward performing over 3,000 births annually. Doctors with Africa CUAMM continues to work alongside the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, focusing on the management of diocesan health facilities and staff training.
In 25 years of dedicated service, St. Luke’s Hospital has recorded: 250,000 admissions, 1.6 million outpatient visits, 70,000 births, 160,000 prenatal visits, 255,000 vaccinations, and 67,000 major surgeries.
Equally essential is the role of the nursing and midwifery college, which has consistently trained competent health professionals. To date, over 906 students have graduated: 452 from the regular nursing program, 202 from the upgraded nursing program (from Nursing Assistant to Diploma, supported by the Oromia Health Bureau), and 252 midwives.
