Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support
Availability of Supplies Encourages Hospital Staff, Q2 2015
August 31, 2015
Mwanaidi Makokha
Summary of Activities
RMF was still charged up in this second quarter of 2015 doing all the best to support the Lodwar County & Referral Hospital. Being the only existing active partner at the hospital, RMF ensured that its support is still being felt at the hospital. RMF continued to support the hospital with medical equipment, medicines and medical supplies, non-pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents and disinfectants.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Medical Supplies
Pediatric Supply Maintained
Drug supply went a long way to maintain the reduction in hospital stay and mortality numbers in the pediatric ward as illustrated in the success stories below.
Medical Equipment
New Equipment is a First for Hospital
The operating theatre department obtained a patient monitor for the anesthesiologist. This is yet another first from RMF as the hospital has never ever had a patient monitor.
Non-Pharmaceutical Supplies
Support to the Entire Hospital
The non-pharmaceuticals are not only important in the day-to-day running of the hospital, but also in the case of road traffic accidents and when the hospital is in a crisis.
Cleaning Supplies
Clean Hospital Minimizes Infection
The purchase and use of the cleaning agents, antiseptics and disinfectants has gone a long way to prevent nosocomial infections.
Forehead Thermometers
Accurate Patient Temperatures
The modern forehead thermometers purchased by RMF/MMI in the quarter for the entire hospital has also enabled the nurses to take patient temperatures more effectively than before.
New Screen Folds
Increased Privacy
The screen folds purchased for the casualty department have promoted privacy, especially when patients are being examined. The old and worn out screen fold available previously were not efficient.
Background
& Objectives
Background
Lodwar District Hospital (DH) is the only functional government regional referral hospital for all of Turkana region, spanning a population of almost 1,000,000. This is where the vast majority of the Turkana and other populations of Northwestern Kenya as well as people from across the borders to Uganda and South Sudan seek help when they need more advanced care requiring medical equipment and specialized skills that cannot be provided at dispensaries, health centers, or private health clinics. Lodwar DH has been struggling for years with wards in need of major repair, and supplies and drugs that come in with great irregularity from the government health supplies department in Nairobi.
Objectives
- Rehabilitate the infrastructure at Lodwar District Hospital, beginning with the pediatric ward and proceeding to male and female wards.
- Rehabilitate equipment set at Lodwar District Hospital, beginning with the pediatric ward and proceeding to male and female wards, outpatient department, operating theatre and physiotherapy department.
- Provide regularity to supplies of basic medical devices, disposables, and pharmaceuticals, complementing the items from Kenya Medical Supplies (KEMSA).
- Provide equipment maintenance and spare parts management.
- Organize on-site clinical training, beginning with general equipment use and care, and pediatric emergency care.
- Provide outreach campaigns.
Numbers
Served
Q2, 2015
32,205 Outpatients
A total of 32,205 Outpatients (12,793 being Pediatric Outpatients); 1,356 In-Patients (690 Pediatric In-Patients); and 400 Occupational Therapy Patients were treated at LDH in Q2 2015.
Success
Stories
Agnes Etir
Name: Agnes Etir
Age: 19 months
Origin: Kalokol
History: The patient was admitted through the Outpatient Department (OPD) with complaints of fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, paleness and wasting. This was her first time to be admitted with these symptoms. Agnes was delivered at home without complications. She received all immunizations as per schedule. Agnes is the seventh child in a family of seven siblings.
Diagnosis:
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Anemia
• Blood slide (for malaria) negative
• Malnutrition ( SAM – MUAC 9.8cm)
Treatment:
• X-pen 1/2ml qid 5/7
• Ranferon 5ml tds 1/52
• Gentamycin 40mg od 5/7
• Flagyl 150mg tds 3/7
• Paracetamol 5ml qid 3/7
Management of Malnutrition:
Therapeutic milk F-100 for three days. On discharge, Agnes was given FBP (Food By Prescription), and was to come back to the hospital for review monthly for nutrition assessment.
Agnes progressed well and was discharged after 3½ weeks.
Name: Joseph Emase
Age: 21 months
Gender: Male
Origin: Nakwamoru
History: This patient was admitted through the Outpatient Department of Lodwar District Hospital with a skin rash, complaints of diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and severe edema. He was brought to the hospital by this mother. This was the first time the patient presented to the hospital with these symptoms. Joseph was delivered at home without complications; he did not receive all immunizations as per schedule. He was tested for HIV, the result was negative.
INVESTIGATIONS DONE:
Blood slide (For malaria parasites) Negative
Malnutrition ( SAM – MUAC 14 cm) weight 13 kg
Diagnosis:
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with severe Edema; Pneumonia
• Blood slide (for malaria) negative
• Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM – MUAC 14cm); weight 13 kg
Treatment:
• Amoxil 5ml tds x 5/7
• Paracetamol 5ml tds X 5/7
• X-pen qid
• Zinc Sulphate
• Gentamycin 5mg/kg od x 5/7
• Oral Resoma
Management of Malnutrition:
Therapeutic milks:
• F-75 for 4 days until edema subsided.
• F-100 administered for 5 days
• On discharge, the patient was given SFP (Supplementary Food Program); two bags of first food, and he was to come back monthly for assessment of his nutritional status.
The above two patients admitted at the pediatric ward in the quarter continue to illustrate how important the emergency drugs purchased and supplied by RMF/MMI are for the children’s recovery. Patients who come from poor backgrounds have been receiving their treatment for free. Pediatric patients continue to benefit from the medicines and medical supplies provided by RMF/MMI; this goes a long way in reducing pediatric mortality. The emergency drugs dispensed (as in these two success stories) are quite costly in local pharmacies around Lodwar town and the parents of the above patients were very grateful as their financial status would not have allowed them to afford the treatment for their children.
More Reports on: Lodwar District Hospital Support Archive
Country Page: Kenya
Initiative Page: Lodwar District Hospital Support