Black Lion Hospital, also known as Tikur Anbessa, stands as one of the largest and most reputable hospitals in Ethiopia, with a long history of providing high-quality healthcare services. Established in 1964, it serves as the main teaching hospital for both preclinical and clinical training for most disciplines in the School of Medicine of Addis Ababa University.
History and Overview
Founded by Emperor Haile Selassie in the 1960s to cater to the poor, Black Lion Hospital has grown to become the country’s second-largest hospital. Once the current expansion project is completed, it will be the largest, with close to 5000 beds, fit to treat half a million patients per year.
The hospital has 200 doctors, 700 beds, 379 nurses, and 115 other health professionals offering health care services. As the largest hospital in Ethiopia, Black Lion is the main teaching center for both clinical and preclinical training of most disciplines.
Services Offered
Black Lion Hospital provides a tertiary level referral treatment and is open 24 hours for emergency services. The hospital offers diagnosis and treatment for approximately 370,000 to 400,000 patients a year. Under the School of Medicine, the hospital spans various departments, faculties, and residents.
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery is a main department of the hospital founded on 25 September 1987 as the leading orthopedic center in the country. It staffs 16 consultant surgeons and 16 residents in training.
Read also: Uses of black seed oil explained
Cancer Treatment and Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy in Ethiopia has seen significant advancements in recent years, particularly with the establishment of specialized centers and the acquisition of advanced equipment. Leading institutions such as Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa provide state-of-the-art radiation therapy services, including external beam radiation and brachytherapy, to treat various types of cancer.
Black Lion Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art radiation therapy equipment, including linear accelerators and brachytherapy units. The hospital offers a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment and emphasizes a patient-centered approach, providing personalized care tailored to the specific needs of each patient. As a teaching hospital affiliated with Addis Ababa University, Black Lion is involved in cutting-edge research and clinical trials.
The success rate of radiotherapy in Ethiopia stands at an impressive 82 percent. This high success rate is a testament to the effectiveness of the treatment protocols and the expertise of the medical professionals involved. Despite the challenges faced, such as limited facilities and long waiting times, the outcome for many patients undergoing radiotherapy is positive.
Radiotherapy fractions refer to the division of the total dose of radiation therapy into smaller, more manageable doses delivered over a series of sessions. Typically, patients receive these fractions daily over several weeks, allowing healthy cells time to repair between treatments and reducing side effects.
The waiting time for radiotherapy at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, currently stands at an extensive 13 months. This prolonged wait is indicative of the high demand for cancer treatment services in the region and the limited availability of specialized medical equipment and trained personnel. The Government of Ethiopia plans to decrease waiting times for radiotherapy treatment by acquiring more equipment and training its staff with IAEA support.
Read also: Black Market in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, radiotherapy technologies are crucial for treating various types of cancer. These machines are used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer.
Cancer Rehabilitation Services
In 2014, a study was conducted at the cancer unit of Black Lion Hospital to assess the utilization of cancer rehabilitation services. The study revealed that only 26% of cancer patients received rehabilitation services at least once. The most common types of rehabilitation services provided were nutritional support (49.5%), psychological support (41.1%), and educational rehabilitation (38.1%).
The study identified several factors associated with poor utilization of cancer rehabilitation services, including a lack of awareness, lack of professional support, lack of family support, and the unavailability of services. The findings highlight the need for interventions to enhance coordinated cancer rehabilitation service delivery and to train health professionals in the provision of rehabilitation services.
Challenges and Improvements
Despite its significant contributions, Black Lion Hospital faces numerous challenges. These include:
- Limited Resources: Shortages of basic supplies and equipment, such as oxygen, baby scales, and thermometers.
- Infrastructure Issues: Broken windows, open doors, and cleanliness concerns contribute to hospital-acquired infections.
- Long Waiting Times: Patients often face extensive waiting times for treatment, particularly for radiotherapy.
- Lack of Specialized Equipment: The absence of CT scan and MRI machines hinders accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
To address these challenges, the Ethiopian government, in collaboration with international organizations like the IAEA, is working to improve healthcare infrastructure, increase the availability of medical equipment, and train healthcare professionals. These efforts aim to reduce waiting times, enhance the quality of care, and ultimately improve the health outcomes for patients across Ethiopia.
Read also: African Physical Characteristics: A Closer Look
One of the country’s two Cobalt-60 radiotherapy machines has been out of service since 2015 in Addis Ababa’s Black Lion Hospital due to lack of funding to repair it. In parallel with the construction and procurement of the machines, the country also needs well-trained oncologists, medical physicists and radiology technicians - and has turned to the IAEA for support.
The IAEA has so far sponsored fellowships in Ghana and South Africa for ten oncologists, while several medical physicists have been trained in Italy and Ghana, explained Aynalem Wolemariam, Head of the Oncology Department at the Black Lion Hospital. Some of the trainees will work in the capital, while others will move to regional centres.
A challenge that remains is the training of radiotherapy technicians. A curriculum for local training has been under approval for years, so in the meantime technicians need to be sent abroad to be trained to operate radiotherapy machines, said Wolemariam.
East African Training Initiative (EATI)
The East African Training Initiative (EATI) is a two-year fellowship program in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Black Lion Hospital. The first year of the program is devoted to clinical care and procedural skills. During visitations, fellows gain clinical knowledge through lectures, conferences, daily inpatient and outpatient rounds, and procedure supervision. In the second year, training in clinical research is added to ongoing clinical training. Before graduation, fellows must pass written and oral examinations and achieve high marks on faculty evaluations.
Since its inception in 2013, EATI has made a tremendous impact in shaping the future of pulmonary and critical care medicine in Ethiopia.
Future Prospects
On 3 December 2022, the hospital planned to construct its own private hospital. The decision is to seek autonomy from the federal government and establish its own financial assets.
The new wing will include an oncology centre with 350 beds and 5 linear accelerator (Linac) machines and brachytherapy units for cancer treatment, as well as a new cyclotron facility to produce radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
As Ethiopia develops rapidly, providing access to cancer services, including radiotherapy, is a key component of that.
Living with cancer in Ethiopia
Popular articles:
tags: #Ethiopia
