Kenya: Lodwar District Hospital Support

RMF-Provided Supplies Saving Lives: Q3 2018

January 12, 2019

Emma Fredah Kiriungi and Rose Boisabi Masega

Summary of Activities

Medical Equipment
During this quarter, RMF continued its strong support of Lodwar County & Referral Hospital (LCRH) by supplying the hospital’s departments with needed medical supplies:

  • The Pediatric department received blood giving sets, insulin syringes, catheters, and cannulas.
  • Other departments that received new equipment include the Maternity ward, Occupational Therapy ward, and Physiotherapy department.

Medical Supplies
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. Drugs including Ranferon syrup, Calcimax syrup, Vancomycin injection, fluconazole infusion, Ranferon suspension, and Frusemide injection were purchased. Silver sulfasalazine (burn cream), Supirocin ointment, and KLY jelly were also procured for the Pediatric and Maternity departments, respectively. 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 has gone a long way in benefitting the pediatric patients and ensuring that the Pediatric ward continues to register low mortality numbers.

Non-Pharmaceutical Supplies
As always, to support the entire hospital, RMF continues to purchase non-pharmaceutical supplies. Nonpharmaceuticals 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.

Livelihood Project
Inadequate nutrition has been identified as the main health concern in the care of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kenya, as it compromises the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and further weakens the immune system. To address this severe difficulty faced by some of the most vulnerable patients at Lodwar County & Referral Hospital (formerly Lodwar District Hospital), RMF has initiated a greenhouse farming project for food-insecure and vulnerable families and HIV-positive community members and their families. The project targets 150 households, primarily those of HIV-positive women and mothers of childbearing age who seek treatment at Lodwar County & Referral Hospital. Construction of a greenhouse is underway on a secure plot near the hospital, and we are assembling a team comprised of a nutritionist, agricultural officer, and select business people who will train and help motivate program participants to implement good nutrition, farming practices, and business management.

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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Saving Lives

RMF Provided Emergency Drugs

The hospital continues to record a high 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.

Hospital stays for patients are minimal due to the availability of emergency drugs. Patients are attended to and discharged quickly.

Helping Children

Pediatric Support

The Pediatric ward benefitted by receiving equipment such as blood giving sets, insulin syringes, and emergency drugs.

Pediatric patients continued to receive medical treatment and supplies for free.

Clean Hospital

Preventing Infections

The hospital also remains clean, and nosocomial infections are being prevented as much as possible with the constant provision of cleaning supplies and disinfectants from RMF.

The sterilizer previously purchased for the Operating Theatre continues to be used by the entire hospital. Equipment can now be sterilized after procedures, thus preventing patient infection.

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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.
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More

Photos

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Numbers

Served

Patients Served This Quarter

Direct Beneficiaries

Outpatients-41,980
Inpatients-4,837
Occupatoinal Therapy Patients-712

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Success

Stories

Joseph Emuria

Age: 4 Months

Joseph was admitted with difficulty breathing and symptoms of coughing and a fever for 2 days. The baby had no history of diarrhea or vomiting, but he was not breastfeeding normally. Joseph’s family has no history of chronic illness or of any food or drug allergies. He is the fifth in a family of seven children, one of whom died. Both his parents are living. His father is a boda-boda driver, and his mother is a businesswoman who owns a small shop selling groceries.

Diagnosis:

  • Malaria and Pneumonia

Treatment:

  • Artesunate IV
  • Gentamicin
  • Xpen
  • PCM, Saline drops

Albert Elim

Age: 2 Years

Albert was admitted with complaints of diarrhea and coughing for a period of 5 days, as well as generalized body weakness and loss of appetite. This was first time he was admitted, with no history of chronic illness. Albert received all immunizations as per KEPI (the Kenya Expanded Program on Immunization), including BCG at birth and polio. He was born at the hospital. Albert’s mother is aware of the importance of having her child immunized, and his immunization is up to date as per KEPI. Albert is the firstborn in a family of two children, and both of his parents are alive.

Diagnosis:

  • Severe Pneumonia with Acute G.E.

Treatment:

  • IV Gentamicin
  • IV Xpen
  • PCM
  • IV Ringer’s lactate
  • Vitamin C

Eyanae Ebenyo

Age: 6 Years

Eyanae was referred from a health center in Kataboi. He had received all immunizations as per KEPI (the Kenya Expanded Program on Immunization). His mother attended ANC visits and he was born in the hospital via spontaneous vaginal delivery. After birth, Eyanae cried immediately and also breastfed. According to the hospital records, his immunizations are up to date as per KEPI. There is no history of pulmonary tuberculosis or asthma in the family. Eyanae is the youngest in a family of eight children, and his parents are pastoralists.

Diagnosis:

  • Severe Pneumonia with Malaria

Treatment:

  • IV Xpen 500,000 IU, QID 5/7
  • IV gentamicin 75 mg, OD 5/7
  • PCM 5 ml, tids 3/7