Swiss cyclists ride 1,300 kms to raise funds for hospital in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Twenty six self sponsored cyclists from Switzerland raised close to nine million birr to help the Jimma University Trauma Unit, Capital learned.

The cyclists rode 1,300 kilo meters from Addis Ababa through Lake Langano, Sodo, Arbaminch, Konso, Jinka and Turmi and back to Arbaminch, Sodo and straight to Jima. “The purpose of the mission is to collect about one million dollars to help the Jimma University Trauma Unit. The cyclists paid USD 20,000 each to take part in this fundraising event,” said the organizer Dr. Jorg Peltzer, in a farewell party held at the Switzerland Embassy in Addis Ababa. The organizers expect about 18 million birr from this project.

Dr. Peltzer came to Ethiopia in 1999 to work at Metu Karl Hospital. Then he went to Jimma University to teach. “At Jimma Hospital I taught about bone surgery and trauma. Teaching is very important to produc talented young professionals,” he said.

Capital learned that Dr. Jorg Peltzer, who is now the president of Swiss Surgeons in Ethiopia took the initiative to establish the Jima University Trauma Unit in 2006. “As a founder of the unit I am very much grateful when I see patients get treatment in this section. Treating people with trauma is extremely difficult. Imagine the pain of people who suffer burns or when the legs are amputated by accident. There was no special unit to treat these injuries. I am now happy that we have raised a good sum of money for the unit,” he said. Read more