Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support
Lodwar Hospital Report, Q1 2014
August 01, 2014
Mwanaidi Makokha
Summary of Activities
After successfully meeting our objectives, and exceeding our goals for the third year at the Lodwar District Hospital, 2014 began with a beehive of activity. RMF once again took the initiative to meet with the administration authority of Lodwar District Hospital and work out the strategy and plans for 2014. Focusing on the hospital needs, LDH saw the need for other departments and wards to be supported and strengthened. It was ultimately agreed that the departments to support this year would be Physiotherapy/Orthopedics, Dental, MCH and the Maternity ward.
No LDH partner has ever previously shown interest in supporting the physiotherapy/orthopedic department or the Dental department. The equipment at the 2 departments is either worn out or not available and staff not able to perform properly. On receiving news that MMI/RMF will be supporting these new areas, everyone was overjoyed.
Medical Supplies:
RMF purchased and supplied the pediatric ward with more essential drugs during the quarter. Injectables such as inj. Nuxacillin, inj. Fortum and inj. Zinacef were purchased. RMF also purchased syrups like Ranferon, Augmentin and Clavulin. Since the program began, RMF has ensured that the medical supplies are available for the patients admitted at the pediatric ward. These medical supplies are usually provided to the patients at no cost which has enabled the pediatric ward to maintain much lower mortality rates and record high numbers of patient visits.
Medical Equipment:
RMF began the year by purchasing equipment for the physiotherapy department. A static exercise bicycle, Infrared body massagers, plaster power saw and hand exerciser were purchased during the First Quarter. The previous plaster power saw was no longer working and the previous static bicycle was old, worn out and rusty. The physiotherapy department had also never owned an Infrared body massager and hand exerciser. Having this new equipment has greatly motivated the physiotherapy staff to provide quality treatment to their patients.
Other supplies:
RMF continued to ensure that waste disposal and management is done in the correct way. Red, Black and Yellow disposal bags were purchased with color coding for the hazard level of the waste, which enabled the hospital to manage and dispose of waste in the right place.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
19,323 Patients Treated
Outpatient and Inpatient
A total of 19,323 Outpatients (3,268 pediatric outpatients), 904 In-Patients (461 pediatric inpatients), and 329 Occupational Therapy Patients were treated at LDH in Q1 2014
Pediatric Ward
Medicine and Medical Supplies
The Pediatric Ward received a comprehensive supply of emergency medical supplies from RMF/MMI. The drugs are still being dispensed free of charge to the patients. The Pediatric Department received new wheel chairs from RMF, which has gone a long way to ensure severely sick patients are wheeled into the ward.
Physiotherapy Ward
Medicine and Medical Supplies
The Physiotherapy Department received acquiring two modern massagers, a hand exerciser, an electric plaster power saw and a static exercise bicycle.
Proper Medical Waste Removal
Waste bags supplied
Removal, handling and disposal of regular and medical waste in the wards and other departments at the hospital has drastically improved with the provision of garbage disposable bags.
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.
More
Photos
Click to enlarge
Numbers
Served
A total of 19,323 Outpatients (3,268 pediatric outpatients) up from 15,597 in Q4 2013 (and 17,898 in same time last year,Q1 2013); 904 In-Patients (461 pediatric inpatients); and 329 Occupational Therapy Patients were treated at LDH in Q1 2014.
Success
Stories
Cecilia Erupe
Sex: Female
Residence: Napetet
History: Cecilia Erupe is the third born in a family with three children and she is about one year old .Her father had died during tribal clashes and her mother does not have a job to support the family. Cecilia was admitted to LDH with an Hb of 6.8g/dl. She was found to be malnourished and was diagnosed with pneumonia and anemia.
Treatment:
IV X-Pen 0.5ml QID x 5/7
Gentamycin
Ranferon
Paracetamol
Nutrition Therapy:
Therapeutic milk: F-75 for three days, F-100 for five days
Cecilia Erupe on the day of discharge
On discharge, Cecilia was given supplementary food (first food) and ordered to come back for check ups monthly at the nutrition outpatient office. Her mother was advised on the diet of the child accordingly.
Cecilia’s mother was very happy and thanked RMF. This is what she said:
‘This is the first time I am visiting the hospital and I am shocked. My daughter has been sick and I did not know if she would recover. I did not know where I would get the money to purchase the drugs. I have not spent a single shilling and yet am coming out of the hospital with my daughter alive. I thank the people who are purchasing the drugs for our children. God bless you RMF.’
Asibitar Nakel
Sex: Female
Residence: Napetet
Age: 3 years
History: Asibitar was admitted with complaints of diarrhea, vomiting, cough and fever for a continuous period of two days. Her mother had attended the antenatal clinic at the Lodwar Clinic. Asibitar was immunized with Tetanus Toxoid vaccine, her HIV test was positive. Asibitar was delivered at Lodwar District Hospital with no complications. She received expanded program immunization as per schedule and she has attained developmental milestones relatively well. Asibitar is the third born in a family of three, her siblings are all alive and well.The father is a herdsman and the mother does small scale business of weaving baskets.
Diagnosis:
Tuberculosis
Anemia
HIV+
Treatment::
Penicillin 250,000 IU 4x/day
Gentamycin 20mg 3x/day
Zinc Sulfate 10mg 2x/day for two weeks
Multivitamin syrup 5mg 2x/day for two weeks
ReSoMal (oral rehydration fluids) freely
Ranferon
Asibitar did not respond to the above treatment and was started on Anti-TB treatment for two months: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol; then Isoniazid and Ethambutol for four months.
She was discharged to be followed up at the Tuberculosis Clinic.
Her mother was so happy about the progress of her child because of the treatment she has received. She said the recurrent illness of her baby had interfered with her business and eroded the little income for the family. She is very grateful for the support received.
On discharge, Asibitar’s mother made the following remarks:
‘I thank RMF so much for helping us out by offering our children drugs. I had lost hope with Asibitar and I thought my child would not survive. Through your help and generous donation, my child has survived and is progressing on well. May God bless you for your continued support and do not give up on us.’
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