Every year, thousands of Ethiopian children live with treatable physical disabilities that limit their mobility, independence, and opportunities to play and learn. While CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia continues to provide sponsored life-changing surgical care, the number of children needing medical intervention far exceeds what one hospital can handle alone. To truly close this gap, CURE Ethiopia invests not just in performing surgeries, but also in sharing expertise and equipping Ethiopian surgeons to serve children with treatable disabilities in all regions across the country.
As part of this vision, CURE Ethiopia established the Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship Program. This one-year intensive training equips orthopedic surgeons from government hospitals to specialize in treating children with correctable disabilities. Fellows work alongside CURE Ethiopia’s senior consultant surgeons, gaining hands-on surgical experience and mentorship. By the end of the program, the fellows return to their home hospitals fully equipped to provide pediatric surgical care.
This fellowship program directly supports CURE Ethiopia’s long-term sustainability goals by strengthening Ethiopia’s national health system. Rather than monopolizing all advanced pediatric orthopedic care in CURE Ethiopia, the fellowship program equips Ethiopian surgeons to bring quality services closer to children’s homes in their respective hospitals. Doing this reduces the travel burdens on families and ensures that only the most complex cases require referral to CURE Ethiopia.
So far, 10 Ethiopian surgeons have completed the fellowship and are now serving in their respective hospitals across the country, significantly enhancing access to pediatric surgical care. One remarkable example is Dr. Belay Tsega, a fellowship graduate who has established a pediatric orthopedic department at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
Today, thanks to Dr. Belay’s training and leadership, Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital has established a new pediatric orthopedic ward and runs two pediatric orthopedic clinics each week, in addition to a dedicated surgical day. Dr. Belay also mentors residents through structured teaching sessions and seminars, ensuring that the knowledge he gained at CURE Ethiopia continues to multiply.
According to Dr. Mengistu, head of the Orthopedic Department at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, “Dr. Belay has substantially enriched the residency program, introducing high-quality pediatric orthopedic practice and improving patient care. Pediatric orthopedic services are now consistent, specialized, and much more effective.”
Dr. Mengistu’s comments reflect the impressive result of the new pediatric orthopedic department; pediatric referrals from Hawassa to CURE Ethiopia have dropped by nearly 80%. This is a powerful sign that CURE Ethiopia’s pediatric orthopedic fellows are gaining the confidence and capacity to treat pediatric cases that were once available only at CURE Ethiopia.
Through initiatives like the Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship, CURE Ethiopia is not only transforming children’s lives through sponsored surgeries but also building a sustainable, nationwide network of hope and healing. By training the next generation of sub-specialized surgeons, CURE Ethiopia is striving to ensure that every child—no matter where they live in the country—has access to the life-changing surgical care they deserve.
Join the work of CURE Ethiopia as we aim to transform lives, restore hope, and break barriers for children with treatable disabilities.
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia
Established in 2008, CURE Ethiopia performs over 2,500 life-changing reconstructive and orthopedic surgeries every year for children suffering from treatable disabilities. Strategically located in the capital city of Addis Ababa, the teaching hospital has 70 beds and four operating rooms. CURE International uses this facility to multiply its efforts by partnering with The College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) to serve as a regional learning institution by implementing an orthopedic pediatric training program at the residency and fellowship levels. In addition to world-class clinical service, CURE Ethiopia ministers to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their communities.
