Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support
Health Systems Strengthening in Turkana: Q2 2016
August 22, 2016
Mwanaidi Makokha
Summary of Activities
During this quarter, RMF continued its strong support of Lodwar County & Referral Hospital (LCRH) by supplying the hospital’s departments with needed medical equipment.
The departments that received new equipment include:
- the Maternity ward
- Pediatric ward
- Operating Theater
- MCH department
- OPD ward
- the Male ward
The Maternity ward received:
- a glucometer
- ambu bags
- fetal Doppler
- stethoscopes for the nurses
- a Macintosh and BP machine for delivering mothers
- forehead thermometers
The other departments had received forehead thermometers in the previous quarter. The head of the Maternity ward was very excited to receive this equipment, as it was in high demand. The fetal Doppler has been extremely helpful in monitoring the heartbeat of the unborn babies.
The Pediatric ward received:
- a photo box
- a nebulizer
- oxygen reservoir bags
- an oxygen flowmeter
This is the first photobox at Lodwar County & Referral Hospital (formerly Lodwar District Hospital). The Operating Theater was the next department and received wheel chairs, chest tubes, and oxygen flowmeters. The MCH department received MVA kits. And lastly, the Male ward benefitted by receiving an ambu bag and a BP machine. The Male ward previously had a BP machine, but it was no longer functional, so RMF had to purchase one for the ward.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
More Patients
Lower Mortality Rate
The hospital continues to record high a number of patient visits with a low number of mortality cases due to the availability of emergency drugs (which are usually very costly, but now are given to patients for free). This has been constant since RMF’s partnership with the hospital began in 2011.
New Equipment
Improving Care
The whole hospital benefitted by receiving equipment such as reservoir bags, a nebulizer, and an oxygen flowmeter, wheelchairs, a glucometer, chest tubes, ambu bags, a fetal Doppler, stethoscopes, a Macintosh and BP machine for delivering mothers, and a forehead thermometer.
Emergency Drugs
Free of Charge
Pediatric patients continued to receive medical treatment and supplies for free. Emergency drugs that are not supplied by KEMSA that patients would otherwise have to purchase are provided free of charge.
Sterilizer
Preventing Patient Infection
The sterilizer that was purchased for the operating theater last year continues to be used by the entire hospital. Equipment can now be sterilized after procedures, thus preventing patient infection.
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
Q2, 2016
A total of 45,117 outpatients and 1,361 inpatients
Success
Stories
Moses Akal
Name: Moses Akal
Age: 3
Origin: Nabute
History: Moses was admitted through the Outpatient department with complaints of fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. This was the first time he was admitted with these symptoms. Moses was born in the hospital with no complications. He got all the immunizations as per schedule. Moses is the youngest child in a family of three children.
Diagnosis: Acute G.E., Pneumonia with Edema, Severe Acute Malnutrition
- Blood slide (for malaria), negative
- Malnutrition (SAM)
Treatment:
- Gentamycin 40mg od x 5/7
- Multivitamins
- X-Pen 1/2ml, qid 5/7
- Amoxicillin 150mg tds 3/7
- Paracetamol 5mls qid 3/7
Management of Malnutrition:
Therapeutic milks: F-75 for three days until the edema subsided, and then F-100. Moses progressed well and was discharged after three weeks. The medication used to treat him until the day of his discharge were purchased by RMF. These medicines were provided to Moses free of charge, and enabled his quick recovery.
Ikone Ikamais
Name: Ikone Ikamais
Age: 4
Origin: Kalokol
History: Ikone was admitted with complaints of difficulty breathing, acute abdominal pain, fever, and general body weakness. This was the second time he was admitted with these complaints. Ikone was born at home with no complications. He did not get all the immunizations as per schedule.
Diagnosis: Acute Glomerulonephritis; Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
- Tested for HIV, negative
- Blood slide (for malaria), negative
- Malnutrition (MUAC 10.9)
Treatment:
- Flagylyne 5/7
- Paracetamol 5mls tds x 5/7
- X-Pen qid
- Gentamycin 5mg/kg od x 5/7
Management of Malnutrition:
Therapeutic milks: F-75 for 3 days and F-100 for 2 weeks. On discharge from the hospital, Ikone looked much healthier and could give us a smile when we took a photo of him. The drugs used to treat him until the day of his discharge were purchased by RMF. These drugs were provided to Ikone free of charge, and his recovery may not have been possible without this support from RMF/MMI.
John Aurem
Name: John Aurem
Age: 4
Origin: Kanaamkemer
History: John was admitted with complaints of difficulty breathing, headache, fever, paleness, and general body weakness. This was the second time he was admitted with these symptoms. John was born in the hospital with no complications. He did not get all the immunizations as per schedule.
Diagnosis: Malaria with Anemia, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
- Blood slide (for malaria), positive
- Malnutrition (SAM)
Treatment:
- Artesunate 20mg/ml
- Paracetamol 5mls tds x 5/7
- Ranferon 5mls twice daily
- Vitamin IUIU start dose
Management of Malnutrition:
Therapeutic milks: F-100. John is still being treated in the hospital. He is on medication and under close observation in the malnutrition room. With the way he is responding to medication and the therapeutic milks, we continue to observe him. We will report further on John in our next quarterly report and include his pictures on discharge.
More Reports on: Lodwar District Hospital Support Archive
Country Page: Kenya
Initiative Page: Lodwar District Hospital Support
