Leaders of international partners who are keen on the advancement of Spine Unit service at Hawassa University visited the Comprehensive Specialized Hospital at CMHS.

Dr. Mengistu Gebreyohanes, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and head of the spine Unit at the hospital, mentioned that the spine surgery service at HU has been launched recently with the support of those long-term international collaborators. He added that, "As the spine surgery service is newly launched and costly to the community, the aim of this visit is to strengthen comprehensive, holistic and sustainable Spine surgery service in our center via collaboration focusing on infrastructure and human resource development with fellowship and further trainings".

Dr. Mengistu pointed out that most of the spine injury victims who come to the hospital are due to accidentally falling from trees or heights followed by road traffic accidents, mining and other fallen object injury, and such injuries need lifelong rehabilitation and combined efforts of all stakeholders.

Dr. Michael Coscia, a spine surgeon from SIGN Spine, USA, and Dr. Claude Martin Jr., AO Alliance managing director from Davos, Switzerland, visited the wards, outpatient clinic, operation theater room and radiology facilities at HU-CSRH.

After the visit, the doctors expressed their observations concerning the current status of the Spine unit activities, clinical service, education and research. Both of them remarked that they are extremely happy with the work done at the center and they are interested to support holistic service in the future.

Dr. Martin observed that the development of the orthopedic service at HU and the overall quality and number of staff is tremendous and significant over the last few years.

Dr. Coscia also promised that, SIGN Spine service will soon be started in Hawassa and it will give a big leverage to serve the community at large.