(Published as part of the “Imagining The Independent State of Oromia: Essays on Freedom and the Future” series. Everyone is invited to contribute. Send your contributions to bantii.qixxeessaa@gmail.com.)
By Mo’aa Abbaa Bulguu, Healthcare Planner
For those who still wonder what freedom looks like… this story is for you.
🎧 Listen to the Audio Version (3 minutes)
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Ten years ago, in 2026, the Oromo people stood at a historic crossroads. We had won our independence after generations of struggle, but the road ahead was uncertain. Could we rebuild a healthcare system neglected for decades? Could we bring consistent, quality care to every community, from urban Finfinne to remote Bale? Today, the answer is seen in full clinics, stocked pharmacies, and rural ambulances that arrive on time: yes. Health has become one of Oromia’s most visible signs of transformation. This is one of four perspectives in our Ten Years of Independence series, alongside small business, security, and education, because a healthy population is the foundation for productive work, safe communities, and successful learning. |
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Ten years ago, in 2026, the healthcare system in Oromia was failing
its people. Clinics sat empty, staff went unpaid, and many rural communities
saw a nurse only once every few months.
The war years were especially hard on regions like Wallaga
and Guji. Hospitals were understaffed, supply chains were broken, and
preventive care was virtually nonexistent.
Independence brought change. We redirected funds that had
for decades been siphoned away to the Ethiopian federal budget into:
- Hiring
and training thousands of new health workers.
- Rehabilitating
and expanding clinics and hospitals.
- Building
reliable supply chains for essential medicines, including solar-powered
refrigeration for vaccines.
Mobile health units now reach villages that once had no
regular access to care, and ambulance services operate in every district.
These gains connect directly to the other sectors. Improved
security has made it possible for health teams to travel without fear. Small
business growth has expanded the tax base that funds public health
programs. Better education means more trained nurses, midwives, and
doctors — and a population better informed about preventive care.
The results are measurable:
- Maternal
mortality is down by over half.
- Child
immunization coverage has reached 95%.
- Life
expectancy is climbing steadily.
Healthcare in Oromia is no longer a hollow promise — it is a
functioning system that is both a product of and a contributor to the stability
of our young nation.
Illusion and lie!!
ReplyDeleteAgain, I say, That’s fair. Many once viewed decolonization, civil rights, or self-rule as utopian too. Ethiopian's (Habashaa) are know for this when it comes to their colonies. But those 'utopian' dreams became realities because people dared to imagine and organize for them. Remember Eritrea?
DeleteForget the healthcare, is Oromia independent?
ReplyDeleteExactly, that is my point. If you are serious about improving healthcare (and other) services for Oromians, you have no choice but to decolonize Oromia.
Delete