Transforming Healthcare: Ebisa Mijena's Impact on Ethiopia's Health System

Ebisa Mijena, born and raised in Ambo, a community located about 180 kilometers northwest of Yetebon, has dedicated his life to improving the healthcare system in his country. Currently, he serves as the Dean at Project Mercy’s Health Science College, where he has been working for the past eight years. Prior to becoming the Dean, he worked as a teacher for two years. He is a proud father of two children, a boy, and a girl, and they all live together in the Project Mercy compound.

Project Mercy’s Health Science College provides full scholarships to Community Health Development students for an education program that takes 1.5 years to complete. The scholarship covers accommodation and meals and has been successful in graduating 126 midwives in the past six years. These midwives have been instrumental in improving maternal health in rural areas, where access to healthcare is difficult. The college also provides health extension training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training, which are critical for the development of healthcare workers.

The college accepts students from different rural areas, and after they graduate, they return to their communities to provide healthcare services. Currently, there are 60 students in the college. One of the most successful midwives who graduated from the college has a record of helping 700 pregnant women give birth in one year in the Sidama region, which is located far away from the closest city. This is a testament to the quality of education and training provided by the college. Ebisa believes Project Mercy is making a significant impact on the healthcare system in Ethiopia, and their work is an inspiration to others in the field.

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