St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College-SPHMMC

28/03/2026

Here are the winning children’s drawings

28/03/2026

SPHMMC Holds Children’s Art Competition at TRAC Silver Jubilee

As part of the 25th Anniversary of the TB Research Advisory Council (TRAC) and the 20th Annual TB Research Conference, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) organized a children’s art competition for students from Grades 3 to 6.

The competition drew strong participation, with 94 artworks submitted by students from 27 schools across Addis Ababa. Organizers noted that the contest was highly competitive, reflecting both creativity and growing awareness about tuberculosis (TB) among young students.

The entries were evaluated by a professional panel comprising Assistant Professor Eshetu Truneh, former instructor at the Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts and current Director of Enlightenment Art Academy, and Tsega Tesema, a renowned sculptor and painter.

Nine winners were selected and awarded during a ceremony held in conjunction with the conference. The awards were presented by Professor Afework Kassu, Chairperson of TRAC and Director of the Armauer Hansen Research Institute, along with officials from the Federal Ministry of Health.

The initiative aimed to engage young students in public health awareness and promote the fight against TB through artistic expression.

28/03/2026

27/03/2026

Advancing Maternal Care & Reproductive Rights in Africa: Celebrating Cohort 2!

We are thrilled to announce the successful wrap-up of a two-week intensive training (March 9 –20, 2026) for our second cohort at the St. Paul Institute for Reproductive Health and Rights Center of Excellence for Reproductive Health in Addis Ababa.

Delivered in partnership with ECSA College of Obstetrics and Gynecologyand the World Health Organization African Region Health Systems Initiatives, this capacity-building program equipped Cohort 2's dedicated healthcare providers with life-saving skills in Championing Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH), High-Risk Pregnancy Management and Obstetric & Gynecologic Ultrasound.

By empowering these professionals with advanced, evidence-based training, we are actively strengthening health systems and transforming maternal outcomes across the region.

A massive congratulations to the graduates! We also extend our profound thanks to our partners and expert facilitators for their unwavering commitment to this mission.

27/03/2026

SPHMMC’s Dr. Bethel Awarded for Leadership in Digital Health and Medicine

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) has announced that its staff member, Dr. Bethel Dereje, a gynecologic oncologist and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has received the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA) Influential Young Physician Award (Female Category).

Dr. Bethel was recognized for her impact on maternal health and healthcare access in Ethiopia. She is the founder of the WeCare Integrated Health Network, which has served over 130,000 clients and supported more than 4,000 healthcare providers.

She is also among Ethiopia’s early fellows in gynecologic oncology and has helped expand advanced surgical services. In addition, she co-founded the Ethiopian Medical Women Association, promoting mentorship and gender equity in medicine.

SPHMMC praised her achievement, highlighting her role in advancing a more innovative and accessible healthcare system.

27/03/2026

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) is undertaking efforts to modernize its diagnostic services through a prospective partnership with Leica Biosystems, with a focus on building a more sustainable diagnostics service model.

SPHMMC Provost Dr. Muluken Tesfaye held discussions with Mr. Yasser Salem, General Manager for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, on enhancing pathology services through advanced technologies and technical collaboration.

The meeting was also attended by Richard Kyania, Channel Partner Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Jemal Shifa, Vice Provost for Business Development.

During the discussion, the two sides explored potential areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening diagnostic capacity at the institution, including sustainable practices in laboratory operations and resource management.

They emphasized the need to establish a modern, state-of-the-art pathology laboratory and improve workflow systems to enhance efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. The discussions also highlighted the introduction of digital pathology solutions, with a long-term vision of positioning SPHMMC as a regional hub laboratory.

The initiative is in line with the medical college’s broader strategy to expand specialized healthcare services and emerge as a center of excellence in diagnostics.

27/03/2026

SPHMMC, Korean Endoscopy Society Discuss Cooperation

Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College has held a productive discussion with delegates from the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to explore strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening gastrointestinal endoscopy services, training and research in Ethiopia.

The Korean delegation, led by Prof SunGyo Lim,met with the College’s Medical and Academic Vice Provost, Dr. Lemi Belay , and discussed the possibility of establishing a tripartite partnership involving MyungSung Christian Medical Center.

The discussion focused on key areas of collaboration, including capacity building, fellowship and exchange programs, joint research initiatives and academic exchange to enhance clinical services in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

During the meeting, Dr. Lemi highlighted SPHMMC’s rapid growth and its commitment to becoming a leading medical hub in East Africa, noting that the College trains over 100 residents and fellows from across the continent.

The engagement underscores SPHMMC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships and advance quality healthcare and medical education in Ethiopia.

26/03/2026

World TB Day Art Competition Inspires Young Artists in Addis Ababa

In celebration of World TB Day, an art competition was organized for children from Grades 3 to 6 across Addis Ababa. Over the past 15 days, students from 27 schools participated, submitting a total of 94 creative artworks focused on TB awareness.

The judging was led by the renowned Ethiopian painter and current Head of Enlightenment Art Academy, Mr. Eshetu Truneh, a former instructor at Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts and recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions to fine arts. He was assisted by his student, Tsega Tesema, as assistant jury. Together, they selected the top 9 outstanding artworks.

The winning children will receive their awards from Federal Ministry of Health officials at a special ceremony, with the winners’ names to be announced very soon.

26/03/2026

Why Nuclear Medicine Matters More Than Ever

A new review titled “Integrating Nuclear Medicine Services Into Health Care Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Challenges and Innovations,” authored by our staff member Biruk Demisse et al., and published in iRadiology - Wiley journal, highlights the growing importance of nuclear medicine in low- and middle-income countries.

As noncommunicable diseases continue to rise, nuclear medicine provides powerful tools for early diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease monitoring. However, access to these essential services remains limited in many settings.

👉 Read the full article here:

Nuclear medicine is capable of solving noncommunicable diseases in LMICs but poses its own challenges. Research and investments are still needed. For nuclear medicine to answer the dynamics of noncom...

25/03/2026

St. Paul’s pediatric surgeons graduate in 2026: Dr. Beza Degmu, Dr. Raji Amsalu, and Dr. Ayenesh Yehune.

24/03/2026

SPHMMC Moves to Establish Regional Hub for Cleft Care Services
Hosts African delegation to boost collaboration

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) has hosted a high-level delegation to strengthen regional collaboration and advance cleft care services across Africa.

The SPHMMC Provost, Dr. Muluken Tesfaye, and Vice Provost, Mr. Jemal Shifa, Dr.Lemi Belay and Dr.Ewenet G.Hana held discussions with the visiting delegation on enhancing institutional partnerships and expanding regional collaboration. The delegation, led by Klara Jancarova, Senior Director of Global Operations, and Abiy Semunigus, Sub-Saharan Regional Director, Dr Mebratu Bejiga, country manager of operation smile Ethiopia , included representatives from Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

During the visit, participants exchanged best practices and discussed ongoing initiatives. Discussions also emphasized making SPHMMC a center of excellence for cleft care and a regional hub for training and service delivery.

The delegation also toured the hospital to observe ongoing clinical services.

24/03/2026

World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains a global epidemic, causing the deaths of 1 300 000 people each year. It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At the time of Koch's announcement in Berlin, TB was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people. Koch's discovery opened the way towards diagnosing and curing TB. It is a humanity failure that 144 years later, this airborne disease remains the biggest infectious diseases killer.