A Historic Milestone for Spine Care in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | April 2026
This week, something extraordinary happened.
The JDC Bring Back Hope National Spine Center has officially opened at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa—creating, for the first time, a dedicated national facility for the treatment of complex spine deformities in Ethiopia.
For patients who once had little or no access to care, advanced treatment is now available close to home, surrounded by their families and communities.
A Vision 20 Years in the Making
What began with adopting three spine patients and opening the spine program in 2006 has grown into a national program transforming thousands of lives.
Over two decades, the JDC Spine Program has performed 1,700+ complex spine deformity surgeries, trained Ethiopian medical teams, partnered with leading institutions, and expanded access to care across the country. Last year alone, nearly 800 patients came forward seeking treatment.
Today, that vision stands as a permanent center—built to serve generations to come.
The Inauguration
The opening ceremony brought together government leaders, Ministry of Health officials, international medical partners, donors, and supporters—alongside patients and families whose lives have been transformed through this program.
Together, they marked not just the opening of a facility, but the realization of a long-held vision: a national center of excellence for spine care in Ethiopia.
