Historical Background

Wollega University Institute of Health Science was established in the year 2000 E.C as Faculty of Health Science with 10 academic staff. The faculty was established by launching four undergraduate regular programs and by accepting a total of 205 regular students in nursing, environmental health, Pharmacy, public health, and medical laboratory. Few months before the establishment of the faculty, the foundation of Wollega University Referral Hospital was laid on June 19/1999 E.C by H.E. Abba Dula Gemeda, the former President of Oromia Regional State and the former Speaker of the house of people representative. The nomenclature given to the hospital at that time was Wollega Referral Hospital. The hospital was constructed by the Oromia Regional Health Bureau. It was designed to serve a 5 million catchment population. The hospital is built on 1.8 Square Kilometer (Km2). One hundred fifteen Million six hundred ninety-seven thousand eight hundred eighty-eight and fifty-seven Ethiopian birr (115, 697, 888.57 ETB) was invested to complete construction. The construction of the hospital took 9 years. The faculty developed to College of Medical and Health Science since 2005 E.C, by opening different under and postgraduate programs including Midwifery in the year 2002 E.C, Medicine in the year 2004 E.C, and Master of Public health in weakened programs in the year 2005 E.C respectively. Later on, the college stepped up to the Institute of Health Sciences in the year 2010 E.C, by owning a referral hospital. The hospital owning process was started by the time the former and the first Wollega University President, Professor Fikadu Beyene established Hospital Organizing Taskforce in 2008 E.C. The task force, had seven members namely, Dr. Dessalegn Wirtu the chairperson of the task force, Dr. Temesegen Tilahun, Mr. Dejeje Chala, Mr. Dereje Duressa, Mr. Melese Chego, Mr. Isak Raga and Mr. Yosef Tsegaye.Read More