Black Lion Hospital


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Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa
June 29th 2009
Published: June 29th 2009
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Black Lion

The largest hospital in all of Ethiopia is Black Lion. I again was granted unlimited access to video and photograph the conditions of this public facility. Black Lion is the last referral hospital in Ethiopia, if your illness requires more care then what they can offer, the next place you will go is Nairobi, Kenya and from there to South Africa. This hospital sees approximately 370,000- 400,000 patients a year but the exact number is not known. They have 800 beds, with 130 specialists, 50 non-teaching doctors. This is the largest teaching hospital for the University of Addis Medical School in Ethiopia, so there are about 350 Residents and 600 Interns. The emergency department sees around 80,000 patients a year and they just started a new trauma unit in the recent months. This hospital is a government runs hospital and with hundreds of staff and personal, I expected to find this facility in much better shape. I did not.

I was very pleased to meet with the Medical Director Dr. Daniels, head of the entire facility. He was warm and welcoming but he offered me the same word of caution about how many come through the hospital but are never seen again since the problems are so overwhelming. Again, we were extremely luck to actually videotape the conditions of the hospital because most times the government does not want this out to the public. To be honest even with the stamp of approval of the Medical Director and the Health officials, ward after ward we would have to call the head of security to get them to talk to the head of that department to let us in to film.

What is interesting is that, an American from Chicago is who contracted through John Hopkins to be the Bio Medical Engineer there, took us on the tour and she specifically asked the Medical Director were there any areas off limits and he said no. She was very happy to show us all the areas and many are most disturbing. One of the biggest problems again is all the waste that literally sits everywhere. Equipment once again that comes without instruction manuals, broken, label for parts only (which mean you would have to have the exact piece of equipment which never happens) and just the array of metal, and wood and old boilers, generator, autoclaves that sit for years because there is no proper way to get rid of it.

The stacks of scrape metal and wood sit in huge piles and you would think that some of this could be sold to generate money for the hospital but because it is a government facility everything has to be logged and check in order to insure no one is making a profit individually. So it sits, everywhere, taking up valuable space in a facility that is way over crowded. They do try to reuse and repurpose things but it is too much, they are drowning in all the waste everywhere.

In the boiler room I counted three huge boilers plus one outside that were completely broken, currently there is only one working. The only place in the hospital that has hot water is the laundry room with has no working dyers, so every piece of laundry for 800 beds has to be hung to dry. The hospital has not had hot water for over 8 years. This city hospital is better off then the rural ones because it does have running water indoors. Honestly though they have no idea how long the last boiler will hold out before the water will not be able to be pumped out to the hospital. Currently the top floors of the hospital receive no water since the one boiler is not strong enough to push the water that far.

It pretty much is the same for the generator. Sine there is a power shortage; the generator is used every other day to provide power for the entire hospital. There is a concern with it’s over use the generator will not last long and then they will be powerless. There is an old German made generator from the 50’s that still sits there but has not been used in decades.

The most disturbing things were to see the black mold growing on the walls everywhere. It is well documented that mold make a person sick and here it was everywhere but worst it was on the ceilings and walls of the kitchen. So the stream rises from the food and the mold literally drips from the ceiling into the pots of the meals prepared from over 1000 people daily. It was horrible. They know it is a problem and they had in the budget to start a need kitchen but when is the issue???


Black Lion only has one working autoclave to sterilize instruments, out of 3 large ones that are just sitting next to each other. Another amazing things is that each day the nurses hand roll thousands of bandages for patient use, since they do not have a sterile package bandage, they can use. So bandages are just sitting around on table, and everywhere else as nurses package them by hand. With lack of resources in these hospitals infection control goes right out the window.




Additional photos below
Photos: 11, Displayed: 11


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29th June 2009

Gross!!!
OMG, the black mold description has my stomach turning. This is appalling! Thank you for bringing these deplorable conditions to the world. I am also appalled by the amount of junk those people are sent that is unusable. WTF?? They need some fix-it guys on staff! Ok, I have a good head of self righteousness going now! Peace, Kelly Jo
29th June 2009

It's truly mind boggling and so unfortunate. Just reading your blog and seeing the desperate need is overwhelming. Bless you for your efforts!
29th June 2009

WOW
I do not even know what to say at this point... I am glad you were granted access and I am glad you are able to create awarness of this appauling situation.
30th June 2009

powerful blog
Dear Kim, I attend church with Kelly Jo Little who has been forwarding the blog of your experience. What powerful pictures! It makes me realize how much we take for granted. I wonder, under the conditions of this hospital, how many people really do recover from their illness? It must be heartbreaking to see those who are in need of help (as well as those who love them) and realize the limits of what can be done there. Thank you for the awareness you are creating. Warm Regards, Shirley
30th June 2009

so much to process
Hi Kim! Thank-you for sharing your journey with us. It is humbling to think of all we worry and complain about compared to the overwhelming burdens of those in Ethiopia. I will continue my prayers for the success of your mission. Watch for the contribution to MFA in honor of your birthday!!! Yes, I know it's late...
10th July 2009

Laboratory job
just contact me, i can't say anything,just i miss Ethiopia
23rd July 2009

Thanks
Black is power !!!
18th August 2009

Very interesting
Hello! I am myself a doctor working in Canada, where people whine if they do not have their MRI the same day...some even complain that they cannot wait. Most of these exams are made only to make sure everything is all right. Such a waste when you see pictures like the ones you provide! Infrastructure, compentence, team work...all of this comes with costs. We are lucky to have running water! Anyway, good luck!
26th October 2009

MY GRANDBABY IS IN THIS HOSPITAL
My Daughter and Son-in-law are adopting a baby from Ethiopia. The baby is sick and in THIS Hospital. Everyone please keep baby Zek in your prayers. Also pray for the Countries in which they do not have better quality healthcare for their people. Cant wait for little Zek to get better and to be able to come live in a Country (USA) where he can have a better life.
6th November 2009

little message
Hello! I am myself a medical reception working inAUSTRALIA, where people whine if they do not have their appointment leat the same day...some even complain that they cannot wait. Most of these days are made only to make sure everything is all right. Such a waste when you see pictures like the ones you provide! Infrastructure, compentence, team work...all of this comes with costs. We are lucky to have running water! Anyway, good luck! I am not saying that you have to do this but take read look for people for hlep to do management like paient help them to help you do somthing to get, will solve problem my help team work will never lose. good bless all of you
6th July 2010

You may be right...
I am a student at TAH. i know about the devastating status at which TA is found at. But you must understand, TA is the biggest refferal hospital in the country. It manages upto 400,000 patients a year and its simply because they dont want to turn their backs on the thousands of people who need help. After what you wrote, you might be shocked to find that patients actually leave the grounds alive. But better yet, they leave healed and better. Have you ever heard of the residents or even interns at TA? They are excellent. They strive for greatness because they do understand the needs our country has. So, go ahead, bash TA, but at the end of the day, it really is trying its bestest to make the country a healthier place.
6th July 2010

doesn't look too bad
Hi, I'm an Australian Nurse working in Sydney. I'm visiting this hospital in August 2010. Sure, compared to our hospital standards these pics look pretty shocking. Though, I've been to some hospitals in Northern India which look a bit sub-par actually do a brilliant job when nothing better is available. And as per your caption "donated junk equipment", as a nurse I can see much in that photo which is not "junk", but is functional (case in point: IV stand). Can't wait to visit myself in August. amanda_mason_jones@hotmail.com
5th October 2010

I know that all hospitals in Ethiopia do an amazing job of caring for their patients! It is the hero's of the medical worker that provide the best care that can with limited resources at times! I am amazed at the level of care patients recieve when the numbers of patients are so great. Please don't misunderstand my blog with complaints about the facilities with complaints about the care. The care is outstanding.. I just want to make the facilities better to help the healers!!!
22nd March 2011

Black Lion
Why dont you do something positive about the situation then instead of moaning and groaning and being so negative. Who are you that you think you deserve to have unlimited access to a hospital? What was your purpose? Why would you so publicly denigrate The Black Lion Hospital without offering a solution? ARe you going to do some fund raising? If not why not? I spent time helping out at the hospital recently and you have photographed only the negative aspects. You should be ashamed. I hope they never allow you back there with your invasive camera and unhelpful comments.
28th July 2011

sad physical state of hospital
I have worked in Somalia and Eritrea a few years ago and the state of those facilities was always wanting seriously. I am palnning on a trip to Ethiopia in the next few months and plan to visit Black Lion and while it may be wanting it is what there is sterility is a good thing for hospitals but is pretty expensive and really hard to do in the African context in my past experience. when things break they do not soon or ever get fixed I really enjoyed your comments on the hospital and your invistigation of the institution where else have you visited to do such reporting I would be interested regards ken merriman md
7th September 2011

I just read your email and I wanted you to know that I am doing something about Black Lion. I have been back to Ethiopia and I am working with the administration on some changes that will improve the facility greatly! I love the good work that Black Lion does with such limited resources. My only need to report this was to raise awareness and to solve these problems in this hospital and others I am glad you have worked there and feel so passionate about this. But I want you to know that I am working hard to make this a better place to enhance the already wonderful work they do there. And the powers at be at Black Lion understand how committed I am to helping. Thank you from your comment! Peace! KIM
16th July 2012

Toker Anbessa Hospital
I was born Black Lion Hospital in 1978 and wanted to know if they kept data from that time& if any way possible to find that out would be great!
16th August 2012

I have no idea.. I would highly doubt it from what I have seen of their records.. even records in western hospitals most times don't go back that far. Thanks KIM

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