By Makeda Yohannes
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| Abba Girmay, C.M., |
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia has been dealing with the problem of deformities and other disabilities from all over the country which affects not only the body but also the social and psychology of the children.
The problem is more common in rural areas where people have club foot, cleft lip, limb deformities and other disabilities due to complications during pregnancy or at infant stage and they are subjected to living with it bearing the different discrimination and traditional beliefs those communities associate disability and deformities with. Even though it can be cured many children in rural areas end up growing with such problems and live an unfulfilled life because of it.
Taking this in mind the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers) took over from ‘Terre des Hommes’ Netherlands the Alemachin Children Rehabilitation Convalescent Center in Addis Ababa where children with deformities and other disabilities from all over the country come to get the treatment. The center since its establishment in 1972 has been working with different health institutions to provide medical treatment for the children. With its fully equipped physiotherapy rooms and playgrounds, learning and recreational sessions, healthy and nutritional diets, very clean environment and dedicated staff make sure the children go back to their families fully healed not just physically but also psychologically and with good manners.
According to Fr. Girmay Abraha, C.M., Director of Alemachin, so far 3569 children with disabilities and deformities have come to the center and 98% who received the service have gone back completely healed. He explains that the remaining 2% could not be completely healed due to additional challenges such as nerve and other related problems.
“At Alemanchin we are dedicated to provide our children a holistic care, we want them to feel at home so we all give them not just physical care but also love. The children with club foot, cleft lip and other deformities and disabilities need to know that they are not different from other children and deserve a bright future just like any other healthy children. We teach them how to treat others with care and respect and we make sure they become eager to learn and work for a well learnt and successful future,” said Fr. Girmay, C.M., talking about the services his dedicated team provides to the children at Alemachin.
He added that quality service is a top priority for the center, “we never compromise on the quality of our services, even when funds are low we always strive to maintain the standard of our care for the children for as long as it takes to fully heal them, that is why our rate of success has never changed.”
Fr. Girmay also noted that the service for the children does not stop with the treatment but makes sure that the children are integrated back to their family and community. He notes that the most important task is the final stage that is making sure the children go back to their home to enjoy a normal childhood with the care and love of their families.
According to Fr. Girmay, C.M., Alemachin works not just with the children but also on the attitudes of their families as this is very important for a sustainable holistic healing of the children. The cooperation of families is also very important since the children might need to come back to Alemachin for follow up treatments even after they are healed and have gone back home.
According to Fr. Girmay, C.M., Alemachin works not just with the children but also on the attitudes of their families as this is very important for a sustainable holistic healing of the children. The cooperation of families is also very important since the children might need to come back to Alemachin for follow up treatments even after they are healed and have gone back home.
The children are very happy at Alemachin, they treat each other with kindness and they are all eager to go back home healed. Volunteers share with them different games and give them advice on various life issues. As children from different parts of the country, they are also experiencing the Ethiopian culture of offering love of friendship and living together in harmony with people of different backgrounds.
The center works with different Parishes, Catholic Health institutions, Catholic schools, Religious Congregations and other Catholic institutions as well as other organization and communities to identify children who need the services. Alemachin is constantly changing the lives of many physically disabled and deformed children and yet much more children need similar services and that is why the staff and the children at Alemachin call on partners and volunteers to collaborate with the center in witnessing the ministry of healing.
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