Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support
Completing Five Years in Successful Partnership: Q4 2015
May 20, 2016
Summary of Activities
We celebrate another successful year of great partnership with Lodwar County and Referral Hospital (formerly named: Lodwar District Hospital) and the Turkana County Government (TCG) in general. Once again we managed to achieve our goals if not supersede them. We would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the continued support from MMI for enabling us, RMF, to make all these activities possible. Without their generous support we would not have managed to reach this far, this being our fifth year. Below are some of the activities we engaged in during Q4 of 2015.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Medical Equipment
Helping Efficiency in the Operating theater
RMF also focused on continued support for the operating theater this quarter, since it still represented the most urgent need. RMF began the quarter by purchasing additional laryngoscopes for both adults and children as well as Mayo trolleys. The trolleys have ensured that procedures are performed with less strain for doctors; trolleys make equipment quickly accessible during procedures. In the previous quarter, RMF had also purchased a sterilizer for the operating theater. The sterilizer was received at RMF offices with much excitement, since it had been such a struggle to sterilize equipment, especially after procedures.
Pharmaceutical Supplies
Ensuring reduced hospital stays
Continuing its emphasis on pediatric support, RMF purchased medical supplies for the pediatric ward. Emergency drugs and those that are usually not distributed by KEMSA were purchased by RMF. Children in the ward benefitted from the availability of emergency drugs this quarter. Injectable medications, ignitable syrups and multivitamins were also purchased this quarter for inpatient pediatric patients. Intravenous solutions such as Dextran were procured; those benefit not only the pediatric ward but also other wards at the hospital. The medicines and medical supplies have gone a long way to ensure reduced hospital stays.
Medical Supplies
Supplying Critical Needs
As always, to support the entire hospital, RMF continued to purchase non-pharmaceutical supplies. Non-pharmaceuticals purchased included gauze rolls, adhesive tape, gloves, etc. The non-pharmaceuticals are not only important in the day-to-day running of the hospital, but also in the case of emergencies with high need, such as traffic accidents, and when the hospital is in a crisis because of significant amounts of patients needing care at the same time, and large amounts of non-pharmaceuticals are required. RMF also played a crucial role in procuring cleaning supplies and disinfectants to reduce the spread of bacteria and aid in waste management.
Results
Impacting community
Because of the large amount of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supplies, the hospital has seen tremendous impact on its services. Many wards are recording such high numbers of patients, because the clinic recently underwent some renovations and has the reputation of being well maintained. With the medical supplies, patients are being attended to in a much more efficient manner and have reported shorter hospital stays. Cleanliness is also a large priority to help prevent the spread of infection and bacteria.
Quality Healthcare
conducive, friendly, and healing environment
Both patients and staff alike have been effected by this project with RMF. With better working conditions and the availability of supplies, they are consistently motivated to do the work. Just knowing that this is available has brought great ease of worry to the community. With these added benefits, patients no longer have to be referred elsewhere, and are able to be attended by the surgeon at the hospital.
Beneficiaries and Challenges
a great need for aid
The Lodwar District Hospital is now the County Referral Hospital for the entire Turkana region; which exceeds 1 million people. It is the only functional hospital with the capacity to support referral cases. Within this region, the most common health problems are malaria, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, anemia, diarrhea, and snake/insect bites.
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
- 33,054 Outpatients (10,746 being Pediatric Outpatients)
- 709 In-Patients (395 Pediatric Inpatients)
- 346 Occupational Therapy Patients were treated at LDH in Q4 2015
Success
Stories
Lorot Akai
The patient was admitted with complaints of severe wasting, stomach ache, and fever. This was the first time she was admitted with these symptoms. She was born at the hospital with no complications, and got all the immunizations as per schedule. The parents were tested for HIV and turned out HIV negative. Lorot is the second child in a family of four siblings. Her diagnosis was severe malnutrition and acute gastroenteritis. After receiving some antibiotics, vitamins and therapeutic milks, Lorot was released.
Millicent Ekal
This patient was admitted with complaints of difficulty breathing, acute abdominal pains, fever, general body weakness, and edema. This was the first time she was admitted with these symptoms. Millicent was born at home with no complications, and did not get immunizations as per schedule. She was tested for HIV and was HIV negative. Her diagnosis was acute glomerulonephritis and severe acute malnutrition. After receiving treatment and management for malnutrition, she was released. She will continue to come back once per month fro review of her malnutrition.
James Ekiru
This patient was admitted through with complaints of vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. This was the second time he was admitted with similar symptoms. He was born in the hospital with no complications, and got all immunizations as per schedule. James is the second born in a family of five siblings. He was given treatment and was enrolled in the ‘Food by Prescription Program.’
More Reports on: Lodwar District Hospital Support Archive
Country Page: Kenya
Initiative Page: Lodwar District Hospital Support
