Mother Teresa's Hospital

We visited the Mother Teresa's Hospital in Addis. We were not allowed to take any pictures inside, but this little girl standing outside the hospital was so anxious to wave to us. She was so cute, she just kept waving and waving. Too precious!

The hospital was something else. They have the patients sectioned off in different areas. The HIV/AIDS patients on one side, the TB patients on another, mentally ill, terminal patients, children, etc. Very disturbing to see. The rooms are huge with beds lined up corner to corner. The patients all wearing the same hospital style clothes...almost like a prison. Some patients looked so sick. Some ready to die. These people are lucky they have a place to go and be fed while they try to overcome their illnesses, but many will not. The nuns were so kind and gracious, but they seemed to be very understaffed and under equipped, like I'm sure most hospitals in Ethiopia are.

We then visited the children's wing. These kids/babies are not necessarily sick, but they are orphans...but they don't like to call them "orphans" or call it an "orphanage". They call them "babies". This was heartbreaking. Again, very understaffed, children running everywhere. Although, most children running around seemed quite happy. The worst was seeing babies tied up to the crib rails. They spend a lot of time in their cribs, so when the babies become mobile and try to climb out of the crib...they just tie them down. Very sad and the babies were just crying...snot all over their faces...just sad.

After visiting the home for street kids and then Mother Teresa's hospital in the same day, I was so overwhelmed! This was our first day in Ethiopia and I was immediately touched by what I saw. I had been awake and traveling for about 48 hours and I was exhausted, but so amazed! I was anxious, excited, and nervous for the rest of the trip!