Out-patient department

We can reflect on a good running out patient department (OPD) in 2008. Although we faced staff shortages managed to still even get a small increase in our patients treated at OPD, reaching almost seventeen thousand patients in 2008. 46% of the patients were under five years old and therefore treated for free. Furthermore we saw a decrease in the amount of patients we had to refer.

The outpatient department consists of a room for the cashier, registration, dental, drug dispensary, and five doctors rooms. Although this is already a huge improvement compared to the situation in early 2007, we are still running short in space, especially for the waiting patients.

In-patient departments

We saw in 2008 an increase of 34% of our admissions. This gave a very significant increase in the workload for the nursing staff. It would also challenge our budget as we in our flat fee system can only regain a small portion of the actual admission costs. But fortunately we managed to keep the quality of care up to a high level and even managed to achieve a reduction in our patient mortality.

The following wards have been managed as one unit by Joyce Sinodya: Pediatric (36), ICU(6), TB (32) and the Private Ward (5). The following wards have been managed as one unit by Cecilia Nkii: Female (24), Male(20), Antenatal (24), and Labor (11) Ward (consisting of a first-stage room, a labor room, and a post-delivery room). In total we have 155 beds plus 3 first stage beds and 3 delivery beds.

Theatre

Mrs. Clement has been besides assistant matron also the head of major theatre. In the past year we have received many compliments from visiting specialist for the quality achieved in that unit. In total 224 operations have been performed in major theatre. Caesarian sections are the leading major operation performed (47 times in 2008), but abdominal and orthopedic surgeries are also performed at our hospital.

Mrs. Stephen is besides our most experienced nurse anesthetist also the head of minor theatre. Minor surgeries, incision and drainages, curettages, fracture reductions and wound dressings are performed on daily basis. In 2008 4474 procedures were done in minor theatre.

Specialist Outreach Program

During the past year we were happy that multiple specialist have been willing to come to Wasso to assist us with patients in need of specialist care. We are also grateful to them that they assisted us with continuing education program by giving lectures during their visits. In 2008 we received 10 teams in total.

Aids Control Program

Since February 2006 we have started to provide services to people living with HIV/aids. We were grateful for the support we received from the NGO EGPAF who supported this vertical program in many ways.

In 2008 we managed to test 645 people for HIV of which 95 were positive. At the beginning of 2009 we had 161 patients in total enrolled of which 81 were eligible to ARV, 78 were actually taking the ARVs (of which 3 were under 14 years).

Dental Unit

The Dental unit showed a decrease of patients served. In 2008 a total of 365 patients received dental care; most of them needed extraction as the condition of the teeth was too bad.

Mother and Child Health Services

In 2008 we continued giving Maternal and Child Health Services at our hospital. This service consist of performing medical checks on al pregnant mothers and giving them the required vaccinations. In 2008 1335 mothers were checked during their pregnancy. Also the regular checkups were performed on newborn children, who also received their necessary vaccinations during their first years of life. The 2667 BCG vaccines from Wasso outreaches are a good reflection of the high rate of vaccinations given by this unit. People could also come to this department for advices on family planning.

Outreach Services

The above high numbers for our Mother and Child Health Services were not only achieved within the hospital compound. Due to the fact that many communities have difficulties reaching our facility, we have been reaching out to them since the early start of our hospital. We started with visiting the communities by car clinics. But from 1969 with the help of the Flying Doctor Service, later AMREF, and from 1983 onwards with Father Pat’s Flying Medical Service, we have became able to also serve the furthest communities by airplane.

During these outreaches a clinical officer treats general illnesses, a nurse officer and a medical attendant perform an integrated mother and child health care – where preventive measurements like vaccinations are the key approaches. If seriously sick patient are met during the outreaches, they are taken back to the hospital for further treatment.

Currently we are visiting on a 4 weekly basis the 18 sites with our car clinics from Wasso and 7 sites from Digodigo. With the help of Flying Medical Services, we also provide clinics to 11 of the most remote locations of our district every 2 weeks.