South Sudan: Juba Teaching Hospital Support

Summary of RMF/MMI-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective (note any changes from original plans):
 

1. Procured and provided adequate cleaning materials to Pediatric department to keep the wards clean.
2. Continued support of high speed WIFI internet services for Juba Teaching Hospital Resource Centre (JTHRC).
3. Developed Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) supervisory checklist to be used in maternity unit of JTH and neighboring PHCCs within Juba city.
4. Prepared the next step in remodeling the Accident and Emergency Department of JTH to be done in quarter 2, 2014.
5. Facilitated the visit of RMF CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs during the reporting quarter.
6. Facilitated the rapid assessment of the Internal Displaced People’s situation in Nimule. (Refer to separate Nimule trip report).
7. Procured and delivered foodstuffs worth $350 to the Internal Displace People (IDP) in Nimule during the assessment.
8. Facilitated the joint need assessment of South Sudanese Refugees in Adjumani district (Uganda).
9. Carryout the need assessment for Nimule hospital and provided them with 150 pairs of beddings.

Results and/or accomplishments achieved during this reporting period:
 
The Health Systems Strengthening project with more focused on Juba Teaching Hospital has achieved many notable milestones during the reporting quarter through the committed partnership with National Ministry of Health, JTH and its staff:
 

1. Prepared and submitted proposal to our Donors for improving the current Accident and Emergency Department of Juba Teaching Hospital following thorough assessment of the department
2. Prepared and submitted proposal for piloting Respective Health Care (RHC) training in Juba Teaching Hospital and all Primary Health Care Centers in Juba County
3. The Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Master Trainers are now pre testing the developed RMC checklist in maternity ward targeting maternity staff and JCONAM students trained on RMC in the year 2013
4. Facilitated and performed regular monitoring and supportive supervision of the JTH healthcare workers and janitors on implementation of waste management policy guidelines
5. RMF continued to work closely with JTH administration and public health officers to ensure proper implementation of waste management policy guideline and regular waste removal
6. Continued provision of adequate cleaning materials to all Pediatric units to ensure proper cleaning and maintaining of the hygiene of the wards
7. Continued to follow up with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – day Saints (LDS) on our proposals for provision of Ultrasound machine for maternity unit and improving water and sanitation situation at Juba Teaching Hospital
8. Support of high speed WIFI internet services for Juba Teaching Hospital Resource Centre which provides internet access to doctors and nurses at the hospital
9. Received visit from RMF CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs during the reporting quarter
10. Carryout the need assessment of Internal Displaced People (IDP) in Nimule and supported them with basic items like phoso, beans, cooking oil & papyrus mats during the visit, these are people who took refuge within the Country following the outbreak of fighting in mid December 2013
11. Together with RMF CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs, the team visited Nimule Hospital, identified gaps and discussed on possibility of collaboration in providing quality healthcare for the population and supported them with 150 pairs of beddings
12. Dr. Martina Fuchs together with RMF South Sudan and Ugandan team carryout joint need assessment of South Sudanese Refugees camping in Adjumani district, identified a number of striking problems, shared the report with our Donors hopping to intervene   

Impact this project has on the community (who is benefiting and how):
 

1. The well renovated Pediatric Ward 5 coupled with provision of adequate cleaning materials has reduced re-infection rates among in-patients and also improved working conditions for healthcare professionals and JCONAM (Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery) students who are on their clinical rotations, and, above all, increased the quality of care patients receive and thus will increase the number of patients coming for medical treatment in time.
2. The JTH premises and the surrounding areas are preserved and kept clean and safe through regular removal of the waste which had posed a threat to the healthcare workers, patients, surrounding community and the environment.
3. The working condition of the hospital’s janitorial workers has been improved through implementation of the waste management policy, developed with the support of RMF staff.
4. The high speed WIFI internet services for the Juba Teaching Hospital Resource Centre that provide internet access to doctors and nurses at the hospital facilitate research and improve continuous medical education.
5. Throughout this reporting quarter, the hospital has been running on medical supplies provided by RMF in the last quarter.
6. The provision of beddings to Nimule Hospital has reduced re-infection rate among in –patients since the hospital now has adequate number of beddings for the patients.
7. The basic foodstuffs and papyrus mats given to the Internal Displaced People (IDP) in Nimule generated hope among themselves.
8. The visit of RMF team to South Sudanese Refugee camps in Adjumani (Uganda) generated joy, hope and unity among the refugees since the RMF team has South Sudanese nationals and been the first to listen to them.

Number served/number of direct project beneficiaries:

1. Direct project beneficiaries are approximately 444,680 people who lived in Juba and the immediate surrounding areas projected basing on 2008 Sudan Population and Housing Census.
2. The JCONAM students who do their clinical rotations in Juba Teaching Hospital are also direct beneficiaries of the project.

Number of indirect project beneficiaries (geographic coverage):

1. 9.86 million South Sudanese as per the 2008 Sudan Population and Housing Census from all the ten states of South Sudan as Juba Teaching Hospital is the only referral hospital for the entire country.
2. The entire business community from neighboring and other African countries, the working class from INGOs, UN Agencies etc

Appendix A: Success Story
 
Internal Displaced People (IDPs) in Nimule_ Magwi County- Eastern Equatoria State
 
Following the eruption of fighting in Juba from mid December 2013 which then quickly escalated to other States, a number of people are forced to leave their homes and moved to other safe locations for their life. Many people from Juba and Greater Bor County moved to Nimule which is a payam located at South Sudan –Uganda border. Some of the displaced people crossed to Uganda and others remained in Nimule who are regarded as IDPs.

By the time RMF visited one of the site in Nimule, the population of the IDPs was more than 40,000 and the number kept increasing daily, the people were lacking basic needs such as clean drinking water, foodstuffs, shelter, basic healthcare services and educational materials among others. Most of the people we talked to were frustrated and angry because a number of organizations visited them, talked to them and promised to help but none had ever returned hence all had bad experiences. However, the few available gathered were able to share with RMF team their past experiences from their war torn areas up to Nimule. RMF through the leadership of the CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs mobilized resources, locally purchased and delivered phoso (maize flour), beans, cooking oil and papyrus mats to help them.

Then everybody gathered there was extremely happy for our support, one of the elderly woman who was initially frustrated and angry then smiles, became full of joy then told the mass that lets pray and she led the prayers thanking RMF for the support.

Dr. Martina seated among the IDPs and listening to their stories, left an elderly woman who was frustrated at first because many organizations visited them, took photos and promised to come but none turn up, this same woman was full of joy after receiving our support which was dramatic shift of attitudes and then prayed for us and renewed her belief in God.

RMF team purchasing cooking oil locally from Nimule market to be delivered to one IDP site_ Hai Kanisa

Purchased papyrus mats from Nimule market
 
 

Dr. Martina Fuchs consoling the IDPs after delivery of the purchased items
 

Rt: Rev Daniel Mabok serving as a translator, Centre: an elderly woman narrating to us her story and challenges they are facing in the camp_ site of Hai Kanisa in Nimule during our first visit in January 2014
 

Dr. Moses Taban Kenyi consoling the IDPs and encouraging them to be positive in life during this critical moment
 
 

Internal displaced people who gathered in the Church in Hai Kanisa