Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support

Livelihood Project

Aiding Vulnerable Families

RMF has initiated a greenhouse farming project for food-insecure and vulnerable families and HIV-positive community members and their families. The project will target 150 households, primarily those of HIV-positive women and mothers of childbearing age.

This project aims to improve the nutritional status of HIV-affected families by providing farming supplies, training, crop storage facilities, and assistance with the marketing and transportation of crops. In offering this support, it is RMF’s goal to provide vulnerable women and families with long-term food security and skills, improving their nutritional status and overall health and lowering mothers’ chances of passing the disease on to their children.

Medical Equipment

Five Departments Served

During this quarter, RMF continued its strong support of Lodwar County & Referral Hospital (LCRH) by supplying the hospital’s departments with needed medical equipment. Departments that received new equipment include the Maternity ward, Pediatric ward, Operating Theatre, Occupational Therapy ward, and Physiotherapy department.

• The Maternity ward received ambu bags and glucometer strips. Glucometer strips, in particular, were needed to confirm mothers’ glucose levels before conducting emergency cesarean sections.
• The Pediatric ward received ambu bags and face masks.
• The Operating Theatre received minor cesarean sets.
• The Occupational Therapy ward received cervical collars, a hammer massager, an Energy King massager, and a powerful massager.
• And lastly, the Physiotherapy department received orthopedic casting tape: 3”, 4”, and 5”. They also received elastic shoulder supports.

Non-Pharmaceutical Supplies

Supporting the Entire Hospital

As always, to support the entire hospital, RMF continues to purchase non-pharmaceutical supplies. Non-pharmaceuticals purchased include glucometer strips, gauze rolls, strapping adhesives, granular gauges, gloves, surgical spirit, examination gloves, crepe bandages, and paraffin gauze, among other essential non-pharmaceuticals. These non-pharmaceuticals are not only important in the day-to-day running of the hospital, but also in the case of emergencies with urgent needs, such as traffic accidents, and when the hospital is in a crisis because of many patients needing care at the same time, when large amounts of non-pharmaceuticals are required.

Medical Supplies

Keeping Mortality Numbers Low

Continuing its emphasis on pediatric support, RMF purchased comprehensive medical supplies for the Pediatric ward. Emergency drugs that are never supplied by KEMSA have continued to be supplied by RMF/MMI for the pediatric patients. Before these drugs were provided by RMF/MMI, patients were asked to purchase them from local clinics, and many patients could not afford to do so. The constant supply of these essential drugs and many others have gone a long way in benefitting the pediatric patients and ensuring that the Pediatric ward continues to register low mortality numbers.

Meeting Patients’ Needs

Medical Services Provided

• Curative: treatment of illness, diagnosis (lab investigations, x-rays), management and follow-up review with a medical doctor and/or clinical officer
• Preventive: promotion of good health education, such as safe water, safe motherhood, HIV prevention, and school health programs
• Rehabilitative: occupational therapy and physiotherapy
• Eye clinic
• Dental services

Success Stories

Pediatric Patients Served

Two success stories from this quarter include:

Precious Eyanae
Benard Akai