Uganda: Panyadoli Healthcare Project
New Staff and Facilities in Action: Q2 2018
September 03, 2018
Naku Charles Lwanga
Summary of Activities
- RMF procured and delivered sufficient medications and medical supplies to the Panyadoli Health Centre.
- RMF procured and delivered sufficient cleaning supplies and tools, maintaining a highly motivated well-equipped team of cleaners who continued to keep the health centers clean and neat.
- Recruited new staff members to assist in the new Operating Theatre, Dental department, and Maternity ward. These new staff members have received orientation and training on RMF’s culture of respectful health care.
- On-the-job mentorship is ongoing at the health facilities.
- Salaries, wages, and top-up allowances for all RMF staff members were paid in a timely manner. This kept the team’s morale high.
- Conducted staff meetings so as to keep the team well-coordinated.
- Carried out Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions for all medical and support staff at the health facilities, so that team members keep sharing and increasing their knowledge.
- Maintenance and repair were promptly performed for hospital equipment, furniture, water sources, generators, etc.
- The health facility was maintained and cleaned, ensuring that the compound, wards, offices, common areas, and the entire facility are hygienic and conducive to healing and working.
- Strengthened data collection and processing in all health centers of the settlement by ensuring that every health center has an RMF staff member in charge of data.
- Continued tracing patients on ARV treatment and following up with those who have defaulted so that they can be restarted on ART.
- In partnership with the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), ART clinic staff members were given additional training on HIV/AIDS management.
- Facilitated the disease surveillance team to strengthen disease surveillance activities in the settlement and surrounding areas, especially in response to the measles outbreak.
- Continuous in-house training on medical waste management and occupational hazards was conducted for the cleaners.
- Medical screening of new refugees at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement was effectively performed during the reporting period.
- Facilitated UNHCR and partners’ coordination meetings both in the settlement and in regional offices, helping to promote cohesiveness in operations.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Reproductive Health
More Women Seek Care
During the reporting period, RMF continued to improve reproductive health services. For instance, antenatal care and attendance were recorded at 131% against the UNHCR expected standard of 100. 1,775 new antenatal visits were registered, which is a 31 increase from the expected 1,353.
RMF has increased access to contraceptives. At the end of 2017, coverage was rated at 63.2. At the close of 2016, access and use of contraceptives was rated at 54. This has been achieved because of the increased awareness RMF is creating.
Preventative Health Strategies
Outreaches Continue
RMF has continued to facilitate integrated outreaches. Through these outreaches, community members are empowered with preventive health strategies and knowledge concerning malaria, HIV/AIDS, and more.
Continuous immunization of all under-5 children living in and around the settlement was implemented through the health facilities and outreach activities as well.
Supporting Mental Health
Sensitizing the Community
The Mental Health department continues to register great success and now has a client load of 1,069. During this reporting period, 806 clients attended, 18 of which were new cases. Mental health patients were referred to Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital as needed. In addition, the department successfully conducted community sensitization on mental health. During this activity, the community was encouraged to refer victims without traumatizing them.
Four Full-Time Doctors
Reducing Deaths and Delays
RMF has been able to eliminate unnecessary referrals to the district and national hospitals. This has been achieved because RMF now has 4 medical doctors based full-time in Kiryandongo, including a competent surgeon who is conducting most of the surgeries at the nearby district hospital. This has helped to eliminate deaths that could occur because of delayed surgical procedures and has strengthened RMF’s cooperation with Kiryandongo Hospital and Kiryandongo District’s local government.
New Facilities in Action
Healthier Working Conditions
A new laboratory has been constructed by UNHCR and is now in use. This has created more spacious and healthy working conditions for the staff. The laboratory now offers a wider range of tests and performs them effectively.
RMF also recruited, oriented, inducted, and introduced new staff members to support the new Operating Theatre, Dental Ward, and Maternity ward expansion. These new staff members have received orientation and training on RMF’s culture of respectful health care.
Gardens Maintained
Durable Solutions for Malnutrition
Demonstration gardens have been established and maintained at Panyadoli Health Centre III to enhance nutrition education and promotion. Emphasis is placed on appropriate crop production technology to empower the community in adopting sustainable supplementary nutrition practices. The purpose of these gardens is to instill the idea of producing nutritious foods at home, thus reaching durable solutions to prevent malnutrition.
Background
& Objectives
Background
The Panyadoli Health Centres, located in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement near Bweyale, Uganda, provide healthcare services to over 100,000 refugees from Kenya, South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, as well as members of the host community.
Objectives
- Provide medicine, medical supplies, and medical support
- Support the Health Management Information System Maintenance (staff and petrol supply)
- Maintain hygiene at clinic to Best Practice Western Medicine standards
- Enhance existing structures for Malnutrition ward and main center
- Provide cooking materials such as charcoal stoves, saucepans, utensils, etc.
- Upkeep and renovation of the health center through periodic re-painting and re-plastering.
More
Photos
Click to enlarge
Success
Stories
Florence Agidru
28-year-old
Florence Agidru is a 28-year-old Ugandan national from Bweyale Town Council, the host community neighboring Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Florence came to the health facility with severe labor pain on August 17, 2018 at 6:00 AM. She was well received and examined by RMF midwives. During descent into the birth canal, the baby could not get past the ischial spines (the narrowest part of the pelvis). Florence was at risk of being taken into the operating theatre for a C-section, but our midwives thought it wise to first attempt several exercises. She responded positively, and at 7:30 AM, Florence delivered a bouncing baby boy weighing 3.0 kg.
The dream of having a normal birth had become a reality for Florence, and she can now smile next to her baby. She was very grateful to the RMF maternity team, as well as the Village Health Teams (VHTs) who referred her quickly from Bweyale Town Council to seek assistance at Panyadoli Health Centre III. Florence promised to bring her baby back to the facility for his immunizations, because she was impressed by the work the team had done in helping her to have a safe and healthy delivery.
Natasha Ageno
3-year-old
Natasha Ageno is a 3-year-old South Sudanese girl living in Cluster A of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. She was diagnosed with complicated measles, moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) on May 11, 2018. Her condition was concerning, and her mother’s expression revealed feelings of hopelessness. The nurses in the Pediatric ward admitted Natasha and started her on treatment immediately.
The team in the Nutrition unit also helped managing the child’s malnutrition. During the first 6 days she spent at the health center, Natasha’s healing progressed tremendously, and the doctors discharged her after 8 days. Measles is currently on the rise in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Natasha’s mother was very happy with the RMF team for their commitment to the wellbeing of her child. She was heard telling other caregivers in the ward, “It is unbelievable that a team which barely knows anything about us can give us such attention and care.” She prays for the continued growth of RMF in Uganda and wherever RMF is serving.
Ruach Magong
12-year-old
Ruach Magong is a 12-year-old boy of South Sudanese origin. He was brought to the health center semiconscious, and clinicians diagnosed him with severe malaria and mild anemia. Ruach was started on antimalarial treatment, and a nasogastric (NG) tube was inserted to enable him to eat, since he was now totally unconscious and depleted.
Ruach started showing signs of recovery after 4 days, but his mental state was deteriorating again. He was so disoriented that he started running around as if someone were chasing after him. The doctors continued treating Ruach and closely monitoring his status. 9 days later, he was in good shape and ready to be discharged. Ruach is now a happy boy who dreams of going back home to South Sudan someday.
More Reports on: Panyadoli Healthcare Project Archive
Country Page: Uganda
Initiative Page: Panyadoli Healthcare Project
