Dessie Hospital

Dessie hospital is a comprehensive specialized hospital located in Dessie, Ethiopia. Dessie is a town in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, it sits at a latitude and longitude of 11°8′N 39°38′E, with an elevation between 2,470 and 2,550 meters above sea level. Dessie is 400 km to the north of the capital Addis Ababa. It has a population of more than 200,000 people.

History

Dessie hospital was established in 1942 in Dessie town around "Kurkur" area. the time was immediately after the defeat of the fascist Italian army by the Ethiopian "Arbegnoch". Currently the historical place is found at the Moha soft drinks factory. The then hospital was constructed from timber. In 1962 the hospital was transferred to it's current location. The hospital landed on 26,940 sq.m land and the construction was jointly funded by the governments of Ethiopia and US. The funding and construction was facilitated by Prince Asfaw Wossen Haile Selassie. For his contribution Emperor Haile Selassie named the hospital in the princes' name as "Asfaw Wossen Haile Selassie Hospital". 

In addition to the health services to the community, the hospital was engaged in training of "Dressers" at the time. In 1977 a physician by the name Dr. Tamrat Reta coordinated a fund from Gutenberg Orphan Relief Fund (GORF), people of Wollo and other financiers to construct "Wollo Children's Hospital". Although the children's hospital was in the compound of the former hospital it was administered independently until 1988. The children hospital had inpatient and outpatient services to children in particular. At the time the children's hospital was the first of its kind outside of Addis Ababa to give children specialty health service. Finally in 1988 it was merged with the parent hospital. Dessie hospital was promoted to referral hospital level in 2005 and to a comprehensive specialized hospital level in 2020.

Current Status

Currently the hospital serve more than 11 million people. Its geographical catchment area includes south Wollo zone, North Wollo zone, Wag Hemra zone, Oromia Special zone, northern parts of North Shewa zone, southern parts of Tigray region, parts South Gondar zone, and parts of Afar region. 

Catchment map of DCSH. the thick red line shows the approximate outline of the catchment area
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The hospital has more than 700 medical professionals and more than 250 administrative personnel working to deliver the best possible care for the community it serves. It houses 597 inpatient beds with more than 15 specialty and sub-specialty services. In collaboration with Wollo University the Hospital is teaching center for medical and other health schools. Additionally the hospital serves as an area of medical practices for students from private and other government colleges. 

Dessie hospital compound from Google Earth
Green arrow head: main compound entrance

Red arrow head: Emergency entrance

1. Biomedical engineering unit
2. Radiology unit
3. Major and minor operating rooms
4. Oncology unit
5. Emergency unit
6. Female medical ward
7. Orthopedics ward
8. Pharmacy store
9. Family medicine and palliative care clinic
10. Adult outpatient units
11. Comprehensive diagnostic unit (under construction)
12. Maternal and child health center
13. Administrative units
14. Medical and surgical wards
15. Store and library
16. Parking area