Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
College of Engineering Department of Architecture
Architectural Thesis Proposal Organization
Done by: Tsion Teferi Asmamaw
ID: ETS 1255/13
Year and Semester: 5 & I
Academic Year: 2024/25
Contents
Background ........................................................................………………..………... 1
Problem statement ...................................................................................……........... .2
Research questions ......................................................................................………......3
Objectives ................................................……………………………………........... 4
The research methods ...............…………………………………………................... 5
Scope and limitation of the research ...............………………………………….….... 6
Relevance of the research/Significance ............………………………………….……7
Organization of the thesis report ............…………………………………………...... 8
Budget and Time plan ..............…………………………………………………...…..9
References ...............................................................………………………………... 10
Background
The evolution of government-owned health centers has a significant role in the healthcare sector.
The idea of public healthcare institutions has been started in ancient civilizations, which included
Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Indian subcontinent. Including Moscow’s first facility the
modern way government-owned health centers established in the 18th century.
The movement about sanitary reform which led to the establishment of formal public health
centers in the 19th century brought a vital change in the sector. Governments at that time started
thinking about the responsibility of the well-being of their citizens and this resulted in higher
development of health centers and hospitals.
Our country Ethiopia has a remarkable journey in healthcare development. After 1970 the
country embraced an approach that was primary in healthcare and has been central since 1993. In
the history of the Ethiopian health center, there was a key moment associated with the set up of a
volunteer medical service hospital by Dr. Thomas Lambie who was an American missionary.
This key moment became a cause for the establishment of the Ethiopian Public Health Institution.
Back in 1922.
Currently Ethiopian healthcare system structure is categorized into four nodes which include
primary healthcare units, district hospitals, general hospitals and specialized hospitals. In the
capital city of Addis Ababa, the healthcare system is organized into 11 sub-cities, each with
multiple health centers providing services for the society in need. The Nifas Silk Lafto Sub City
Woreda 11 Health Center is found at coordinates 8.930672° N, 38.742258° E in Addis Ababa,
and is a part of this healthcare network.
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Problem statement
More than half the population of the area, when someone gets sick uses the health center which
is owned by the government. Upon arriving at the center for treatment, patients and the
caregivers who will come with the patients should have an identification card which is from
Kebele or school. If someone cannot do that there will be no service that person will get from the
center. If you pass the security guards and pass in, there's a long line waiting to receive your care
card which has personal information of yours.
Once the patient gets the care card, the patient will enter the first consultation room where they
will explain the symptoms they have. Based on the information they give the healthcare provider
will decide the room and doctor that they have to wait to get the treatment. After someone is
directed to the main building to wait for the doctors there will be at least 1 hour that will be
wasted by sitting at the waiting area. The doctors do not show up before 3:00 local time and
when they arrive there will be at least 10 to 15 patients waiting for each doctor. Alongside the
waiting time if you arrive late and the waiting area is full you will stand by your feet and wait for
the doctor even if you are in a difficult situation.
Finally, patients will be called to the doctor's room one by one for the consultation and receive a
prescription, but the prescribed medicines will not be available in the health center’s pharmacy
often. This makes the situation of patients worse and forces them to trip to other governmental
pharmacies to get the medicines. Throughout this entire process, patients face several
infrastructural challenges, such as poorly designed stairs, the absence of elevators, and limited
waiting areas.
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Research questions
1. Over 70% of the land of the health centre is underutilized and discovered to be a principle
spatial challenge which ought to be further delved into in coming up with feasible design
solutions for expansion and optimization of the space utilization.
2. The given level of accessibility to infrastructure for persons with disabilities will need
evaluation with a view to affording design interventions capable of bettering accessibility
and functionality.
3. One of the few professions with chronic shortages is said to include doctors and nurses,
making it relevant to study spatial and environmental factors that relate to retention and
efficiency.
4. The quality of service and infrastructure concerned with healthcare is inadequate, and
thereby analysis of existing built-up environments to recommend enhancements is required
to recover healthcare delivery and guarantee a better experience in the treatment provided.
5. Various options should be considered to allow telemedicine and digital health technologies
to capitalize on health posts situating spatial and operational limits to effect health care
access while overcoming the challenges of chronic under-resourcing.
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Objectives
General Objective
To improve the efficiency of Government owned Health center in Nifas Silk-Lafto Sub-City
Woreda 11.
Specific objectives
1. To study the existing infrastructure, including buildings, medical equipment, and facilities in
Woreda 11 government owned health center.
2. To Analyze the current healthcare services provided, including patient care, medical
procedures, and support services, to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.
3. To design solution that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of infrastructure and
health care services of the health centre.
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The Research Methods
Literature Review: analyze and synthesize, where literature exists, the healthcare infrastructure,
its accessibility, and innovative design solutions in similar settings. A thorough review of
academic papers, reports, relevant literature, and other resources will provide the theoretical
framework and context for the study.
Case studies: success stories involving healthcare facilities within very similar contexts and
more common challenges are noted.
Site analysis: analyze the state of the health post's infrastructure and spatial usage.
Interviews and surveys: gather qualitative data from healthcare professionals, patients, and
community members.
Environmental Impact Assessment: evaluate the environmental sustainability of the health
center’s current infrastructure. The structure shall take the preliminary step of checking how
environmentally friendly the current facilities are by investigating energy efficiency, waste
management, and sustainable materials.
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Scope and Limitation of the Research
Scope
Site Access: Study and assess the access for users to the site and whether access for the elderly
and those who are differently-able to the site and within the immediate vicinity is acceptable.
Retention of Healthcare Personnel: Identify the major challenges in retaining healthcare
providers and their requirements.
Quality of Service: Identify and assess the existing quality of services and understand user
perception.
Community and Public-Private Participation: Assess to what extent the community is
involved in the decision-making and up-keeping of the health post or thinking of a public-private
partnership in collaboration with the government and non-governmental private healthcare sector.
Site Environmental Impact Assessment: Conduct a site analysis of environmental aspects
pertaining to the existing infrastructure.
Limitation
Resource Constraints: The proposed design interventions may lack in the richness of detail due
to resource and time constraints.
Time Constraints: Limited resources may prevent the team from conducting in-depth data
collection and analysis, making it necessary to select a few critical issues and focus on them
more deeply.
Data Accessibility: A comprehensive and accurate baseline of existing conditions of the health
post may be hard to obtain.
Technological Limitations: Some advanced digital health solutions may not integrate with
existing technological systems.
Geographical Focus: Focusing on a single health post may limit the scope for drawing
generalizable insights that inform the process if scaling up. .
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Relevance of the research
This study holds significant relevance for the sector f the health also for the city of Addis Ababa
which are expanding rapidly. The neighborhood where i do my research has a significant
population change from time to time. As the population increases the demand of services also
increases. The research aims to turn light on the spatial and architectural challenges faced by the
center. By addressing these challenges, the study seeks to enhance the functionality and
accessibility of healthcare services, contributing to better health outcomes for the community.
Moreover, the optimization of the extensive health center compound aligns with the principles of
efficient land use and sustainable development. This approach not only maximizes the utility of
available space but also promotes the efficacy of healthcare delivery systems. The findings from
this research will emphasize the importance of sustainable and inclusive design in healthcare
infrastructure, highlighting the need for well-planned and adaptable spaces that can meet the
evolving needs of urban populations. Ultimately, the study's outcomes will provide valuable
guidance for policymakers, architects, and urban planners in creating more resilient and
accessible healthcare environments.
Organization of the thesis Report
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Title Page: Includes the title of the thesis, the student's name, advisor name, institution,
department, and date of submission.
Statement of declaration
Acknowledgement
Table of Contents: Lists all the chapters and major sections, along with page numbers for easy
navigation.
List of Figures and Tables: Includes the titles and page numbers of all figures and tables used
in the thesis.
Introduction: Introduces the research topic, provides background information, and states the
research problem and objectives.
Research Methodology: Describes the research design, methods, and procedures used to
conduct the study.
Site Analysis: Provides a detailed analysis of the Nifas Silk-Lafto Sub City Woreda 11 Health
Post, including its infrastructure, spatial utilization, and current state. This section includes
observational data and site measurements.
Findings and Discussion: Presents the key findings from the research, including qualitative and
quantitative data.
Design Proposals: Outlines the proposed architectural design solutions based on the research
findings.
Conclusion: Summarizes the main findings of the research, discusses the limitations, and
suggests areas for future research.
Recommendations: Provides specific, actionable recommendations for stakeholders, including
policy makers, urban planners, and healthcare facility managers.
References: Lists all the sources cited in the thesis, following a standardized citation format
Budget and Time plan
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Budget plan
NO ITEMS DESCRIPTION COST
1 Materials and Supplies for Survey Printing and distribution costs 1000
2 Site Visits Transportation for site visits and 500
assessments
3 Measuring Tools For site analysis and infrastructure 500
assessment
4 Intercommunication and data For phone call and search 1000
5 Contingency Fund Unforeseen expenses 2000
Total 5000
Time plan
Time Things to do Description
Week 1 Site Analysis Case Studies Analysis and
site visit
Week 2 Data Collection Surveys and Interviews
Week 3 Data Analysis Environmental Impact
Assessment
Week 4 Design Proposal
Development
Week 5 Finalize Design Proposals
Week 6 Thesis Review and Editing
Week 7 Thesis Submission
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Reference
1. McDonald, D., Daan, H. and Hyacinth, I. (2022). Integrating private health facilities in
government-led health systems: a case study of the public–private mix approach in Ethiopia.
BMC Health Services Research. Available at:
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-08769-7 .
2. Wamai, R.G. (2024). Aid, ownership, and coordination in the health sector in Ethiopia.
Exemplar Global Health. Available at: https://www.exemplars.health/-
/media/files/egh/resources/stunting/ethiopia/aid-ownership-and-coordination-in-the-health-
sector-in-ethiopia.pdf
3. Wamai, R.G. (2015). Reviewing Ethiopia's Health System Development. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-
Wamai/publication/291727516_Reviewing_Ethiopia's_Health_System_Development/links/60e0
02c592851ca944a3336d/Reviewing-Ethiopias-Health-System-Development.pdf
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