“If there was not service here, they would send me to Jimma, 90 miles from here. I would have died on my way. This is a miracle.” - Tarikua, patient at Tercha Hospital

Tarikua

In a rural village, Tarikua, a mother of six, awoke to signs of labor and immediately began to experience complications. After a difficult night, she was carried to the closest health clinic. The baby was in breech and Tarikua needed an emergency c-section at a hospital. An ambulance quickly took Tarikua the remaining 30 miles to the maternity ward at Tercha Hospital for emergency care.  

“If there was not service here, they would send me to Jimma, 90 miles from here. I would have died on my way. This is a miracle.”Tarikua, patient at Tercha Hospital

After her surgery and safe delivery, both Tarikua and her new baby, Dawit, received attentive recovery care. They are both healthy and thriving.  

Tarikua’s story is a common one at Tercha Hospital. Before the construction of the Glimmer maternity and pediatric wards, mothers and their children were at risk during and after birth. Now modern, holistic health care is available for the women and children of Tercha and the surrounding villages.

Dr. Bahiru, a surgeon at Tercha Hospital, is proud of their work and progress in connecting more women and babies to better care. “Over the past year 95% of the mothers treated here were discharged in improved health," said Dr. Bahiru. "This is a very good achievement.”