The GOSTAR Project

The Swiss Surgeons in Ethiopia Foundation was founded by Dr. med. Jörg (Pele) Peltzer to address the lack of access to medical care for the rural population.

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In 2006, Pele opened the first trauma surgery centre in Ethiopia at the University Hospital in Jimma. GOSTAR is the name of the trauma surgery training project run by the foundation and the University of Jimma.

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Sustainable development of trauma surgery is only possible if knowledge is passed on to local specialists with the aim that they can someday continue the project by themselves.

In addition to the daily work in the operating theatre, the specialists pass on their knowledge to local doctors and students. They hire surgical assistants and physiotherapists for aftercare.

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The GOSTAR project also includes an orthopedic workshop to manufacture and customize diverse walking aids (shoes, orthoses, prostheses).

The hospital is the only point of contact for over 15 million people in southwestern Ethiopia that provides treatment to trauma victms. The current surgical and bed capacity is far from sufficient to treat all the injured who arrive at Jimma Hospital with hopes of receiving treatment.