ERCS offers healthcare to 55,000 low-income patients

A sheer smile fills Fatuma Hassan’s face when talking about a clinic built by the Ethiopian Red Cross society in her vicinity. Found in Chiro town of the West Hararghe Zone in the State of Oromia, the clinic has been there for nearly eleven years.

Fatuma, 58, has come here the second time. She is delighted over the professional treatment she has received.

“They treat you with respect,” Fatuma says with excitement. “They are professional. Everyone here is phenomenal.”

Fatuma at times fall short of words.

“They make sure my diabetes level is okay. They’re all nice . . . they are like a family to me. I couldn’t thank them enough,” Says Fatuma adding every one there is nice to her and other patients.

Not only the professional care, but the low cost clinical treatment makes it unique. The Clinic offers check-ups, screenings, testing and medication; all free of charge for those who can’t afford the pay.

In 2018/19 fiscal year it has provided a free clinical service for 1,463 people. It has also managed to render free medical services to internally displaced people resided in the Zone.

Hamza Abdulfeta is the Medical Director of the Clinic. He says most patients have as similar stories as Fatuma’s.

“We render services for free for those who can’t afford to pay” Hamza explains. “Everybody is so appreciative. People come here when they have nowhere else to go and I enjoy being a part of the clinic and part of their lives.”

The Clinic is also the only medical facility which provides care to tropical dermatology patients in the zone. The physician offer this service voluntarily three times a week, coming from Dire Dawa Hospital. There are twenty volunteers including eight medical doctors, health officers and nurses working in the clinic doing the best they can to cure their patients.

As part of its ongoing effort to making quality health care convenient and affordable, the clinic hopes to expand its service delivery.

“We are looking forward to expansion. We aspire to reaching out to patients who seek our assistance by upgrading this medium clinic into higher clinic,” says Hamza.

Mohammed Seid, Head of ERCS West Hararge Zonal Branch notes that shortage of skilled human power and medical equipment are the hindrances to overcome for a better service delivery. He called upon donors’ assistance in capacity building and material support for them to compete with private health care facilities in the area.

High cost of drugs has been burdening the community before ERCS West Hararghe Zone Branch Drug Store came to the relief of many. It supplies medicines at half cost compared to similar private pharmacies in Chiro town. The Drug Store has delivered its services to 49,380 people last year alone.

“It was sad that people were not getting care because of high cost medication. We are glad that the Red Cross Clinic and Drug Store came to our rescue.” says Fatuma speaking of the benefits of the Clinic and the Drug Store to her and the community at large.

The Clinic has served for 55,695 people in 2018/19 fiscal year; 108 percent of its plan according to information from the Zonal Branch.