HISTORY
· 1928 German Hermannsburg Mission (GHM) started work in Aira
· 1930 Sister Martha Wassmann arrived and started medical work in a grass roofed house with two beds for inpatients
· 1952 Health Clinic was started (Mana Qoritcha)
· 1954 The first hospital with 25 beds was build
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AIRA HOSPITAL 1954 a drawing by D.Wassmann
· 1960 Expansion of the hospital to 5o beds
· 1971 The hospital was integrated in the medical work of the Western Synod (WS) of Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)
· 1977 – 1999 Dr Doorenbos the first surgeon ever to serve at Aira Hospital. For many years he carried an incredible workload working as the only doctor in the hospital. He was the father of surgery for western Wollega. His continuous and uninterrupted work gave the hospital a very high reputation in particular for the surgical service which was not offered anywhere else. Without his dedicated service the hospital would never have been what it is today.
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Dr and Mrs Doorenbos.
Mrs Doorenbos did a great job teaching at the high school in Aira. Thousands of students benefited from her teaching and hundreds received financial support from the Doorenoos.
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· 1987-1993 The present hospital with 80 beds was constructed
· 1994 Inauguration of the new hospital, which was funded by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
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AIRA HOSPITAL 1994 photo by Christine Stotter from an airplane
· 2001 The former Western Synod (WS) was re-established into 3 synods and one working area. General responsibility and administration of the medical institutions was given to the respective synods in which they were located. Thus Aira Hospital is administratively responsible to Birbir-Dila Synod (BDS), and operatively to the Joint Health Service Programs Board (formed by the three synods and one working area) with a coordination office in Bodji
· 2008 The first formally trained nurse anesthetist - Mr. Tesgara - is returning to Aira Hospital after a three year degree program in anesthesia at the Black Lion University Hospital in Addis Abeba.
· 2009 Two specialist trained Ethiopian doctors return to serve the hospital after 4 years training at Black Lion University Hospital in Addis Abeba - Dr. Samuel as Ophthalmic Surgeon and Dr. Tariku as General Surgeon
