The Weragu Mission sits at 2,000 metres above sea level, in a mountain area of Ethiopia where access to healthcare is extremely limited. It is the main reference point for some 50,000–60,000 people, who depend entirely on the only health facility there is: a small clinic with a dispensary and a maternity ward, run with great dedication by three nursing sisters.
The current clinic is built of mud and straw, fragile materials that time has worn down. The building is no longer safe and no longer meets the community’s health needs. Harsh weather and the lack of infrastructure make it urgent to build a new masonry structure that can provide safe, hygienic and properly equipped spaces.
The project includes
- The construction of a new masonry clinic, designed to meet proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
- Dedicated spaces for the pharmaceutical dispensary and the maternity ward, today too small for the community’s needs.
- An area for emergencies and first aid, which currently does not exist.
- A plan for managing the water and power supply, essential for the clinic to operate.
Immediate measures
While the new building is being completed, we are renovating a block-built structure to serve as a temporary clinic, so that healthcare is not interrupted during the works.
Alongside the nursing sisters, the mission is run by two Consolata Fathers, engaged in pastoral work and community support. Our team assessed the importance and feasibility of this project on site, and considers it a priority for improving the quality of life of the local population.
Project status and next steps
- Planning and definition of the detailed design, with estimates of the time and resources required.
- Coordinating the collection of materials and funds, essential to start construction.
- Immediate support to the sisters and missionary fathers, to keep health services running through the transition.