Dr. Abdulfetah Speaks: A Vision Realized
A vision born more than a decade ago is now a reality. Yesterday, SPHMMC inaugurated its state-of-the-art Fetal Diagnostic & Intervention Center.
Dr. Abdulfetah Abdulkadir, SPHMMC’s first MFM specialist and former Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shares how the journey began.
Here is an excerpt from his story:
I still remember the beginning of this journey. It was February 2014, when St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College launched Ethiopia’s first Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellowship program.
At that time, my vision was bigger than simply starting a training program. I wanted to help build a strong foundation for maternal-fetal medicine in Ethiopia—to train specialists, strengthen our health system, and provide mothers and unborn babies with the specialized care they deserved.
The first fellows were Professor Delayehu Bekele and Dr. Balkachew Nigatu. They were committed, hardworking, and passionate about the field. We spent those early years building the program step by step.
I had previously had the opportunity to train abroad, and I knew how valuable international exposure could be. So, during the fellows’ training, I worked to create an opportunity for them to observe advanced fetal medicine services at King’s College Hospital in London.
They spent two weeks there, seeing how fetal diagnosis and intervention were organized and delivered. That experience had a lasting impact on us.
I remember thinking: Why should mothers in Ethiopia have to travel abroad to receive this kind of care? Why can’t we build it here?
That question became a dream.
We began imagining a future where Ethiopia could have a center capable of diagnosing fetal conditions early and, when possible, intervening before birth. It was not an easy dream. Building specialized services requires trained professionals, equipment, experience, institutional commitment, and, most importantly, patience.
Over the years, the MFM fellowship program continued to grow. We trained more specialists, and many of them went on to serve in universities and tertiary hospitals across the country. Slowly, the field of maternal-fetal medicine began to take root in Ethiopia.
Today, standing at the inauguration of the Fetal Diagnostic and Intervention Unit at SPHMMC, I feel a deep sense of gratitude and fulfillment.
What we imagined more than a decade ago is now becoming a reality.
This achievement does not belong to one person. It is the result of the dedication of many colleagues, trainees, hospital leaders, partners, and professionals who believed in the vision and continued working toward it.
For me, this is one of the most rewarding parts of the journey: seeing people we trained become leaders themselves and seeing a dream that once seemed distant become a service that can help mothers and babies today.
We started with a vision in 2014. Today, we are seeing that vision come to life. And the most important part is that care can now begin before birth.
August 15, 2026 6K 2
