For more than twenty years the Amici di Filippo association gave steady support to the Gambo Hospital, a health centre of primary importance for the whole Shashamene region, with a catchment area of around 500,000 people. The hospital has 135 beds, includes a leprosarium and is often the only chance of treatment for thousands of people, given how few equipped health facilities there are in the area.
The outpatient department sees between 250 and 300 people a day, with around 300 admissions a month. Its departments include: tuberculosis, leprosarium, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, paediatrics, general medicine, maternity, surgery, operating theatre, HIV and sexually transmitted infection clinic, pharmacy, clinical laboratory, ultrasound and radiology.
The leprosarium
The leprosarium was opened in 1960 and initially housed around 40 families. From 1985 it began to turn into a general hospital, which by 1987 already had 140 beds. The leprosy village still houses people affected by leprosy together with their families who, once discharged, were not in a position to return to where they came from: the mission built homes for them, and today 35 families are cared for by the Consolata Missionary Sisters.
The main work carried out
- Sewerage and hygiene — building an underground sewer to dispose of waste from the hospital and the leprosarium dramatically improved sanitary conditions across the whole facility.
- Doubling the water tank — upgrading the water systems increased supply capacity and ensured a continuous flow of drinking water.
- Anaesthesia machine — with this equipment the hospital was able to increase the number and complexity of surgical operations, a step change for the whole facility.
- Pharmacy and infectious disease clinic — a steady supply of essential medicines and diagnostic instruments for the laboratory. Thanks to advances in healthcare, no new cases of leprosy have been recorded for years.
- Staff support and training — financial support for local staff and training and refresher programmes, so that care meets international standards.
The legacy and the handover
After years of growth and consolidation, management of the Gambo Hospital was transferred in full to the Ethiopian government, which integrated it into the national health network, ensuring continuity of services for the population.
Our association is deeply proud to have contributed to the story of this hospital: our work left a tangible mark, and we will keep following how it develops, supporting local healthcare in other forms wherever it is needed.