July 27, 2009: A national HIV Surveillance Summit opened today in Adama town to develop a five-year HIV surveillance and survey strategic plan and leverage commitments from various stakeholders in the health sector to undertake the activities. The summit will stay open until Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a member of the National HIV Surveillance and Survey Technical Working Group that supports the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), the Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (FHAPCO), and Regional Health Bureaus in conducting various HIV/SIT/TB surveillance and survey activities in Ethiopia. Alongside, FHAPCO and EHNRI; CSA, WHO, UNAIDS and Tulane University are also members of the technical Working group.
Ethiopia is among the sub-Saharan countries highly affected by HIV/AIDS with an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS and national prevalence of 2.2%.
The data from surveillance and surveys provide crucial information on populations infected with HIV, and who are at risk for HIV infection. These data help to develop HIV/AIDS control and prevention programs in the country. Ethiopia has made great strides in curbing the HIV epidemic based on evidence-based planning and comprehensive interventions. Currently, the FMOH and EHNRI, in collaboration with major partners, are strengthening the national HIV Surveillance programs by increasing the geographic coverage - mainly in rural sites, improving data and testing quality, providing appropriate standardized training for the staffs at national, regional, sentinel sites as well as in the regional laboratories.
Due to the marked geographic heterogeneity of the HIV epidemic, new surveillance approaches and more focus on the regional level and relevant population groups are highly desired. There has been no mid/long term national HIV surveillance and surveys strategic plan. The strategic plan is crucial to guide the collective efforts of surveillance stakeholders in generating relevant epidemiologic information to optimally support the design and implementation of HIV control and prevention programs in Ethiopia.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Mystery disease kills 18 in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA - A mysterious disease has killed 18 people and affected around 150 others in central Ethiopia, the UN humanitarian office said Monday.
"Although the signs and symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, neck stiffness, diarrhea and vomitting — all related to meningitis, the specific disease has not yet been confirmed," it said in a statement.
The Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the disease erupted on July 4.
Meanwhile, an outbreak of typhoid fever has killed one person and affected more than 100 in the northern Tigray region, OCHA said, adding that 11 others have also died of acute watery diarrhea across the country.
The Horn of Africa nation is also facing food shortages in some parts with over six million of its people needing food aid due to poor rains, according to the UN.
Ethiopia is Africa's second most populous country after Nigeria with around 77 million inhabitants.
"Although the signs and symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, neck stiffness, diarrhea and vomitting — all related to meningitis, the specific disease has not yet been confirmed," it said in a statement.
The Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the disease erupted on July 4.
Meanwhile, an outbreak of typhoid fever has killed one person and affected more than 100 in the northern Tigray region, OCHA said, adding that 11 others have also died of acute watery diarrhea across the country.
The Horn of Africa nation is also facing food shortages in some parts with over six million of its people needing food aid due to poor rains, according to the UN.
Ethiopia is Africa's second most populous country after Nigeria with around 77 million inhabitants.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Veterinary school celebrates 50 years with service project in Ethiopia
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine celebrated its 50th anniversary by sending 19 faculty members, students and alumni to Ethiopia to help production animal proficiency and facilitate ongoing relationships with the Ethiopian veterinary school.
The group spent several days working with Project Mercy, a U.S.-based nonprofit relief and development agency that seeks to improve both cattle and human nutrition through breeding practices.
Mark Hilton, Purdue veterinarian and clinical professor of food and animal production medicine, explains to veterinary students in Ethiopia how to properly trim cow hooves. (Purdue University photo courtesy of Mimi Arighi)
“This trip was a service project first and foremost,” said Mark Hilton, Purdue veterinarian and clinical professor of food and animal production medicine. “We knew we would be able to help out with Project Mercy and that they would appreciate any input we could provide.”
As part of their work with Project Mercy, the group calculated animal weight, administered vaccines and performed pregnancy checks.
“The thing that surprised me most was the lack of adequate animal nutrition and growth,” Hilton said. “The heifers there were only 250-350 pounds at a year old. Because of the lack of nutrition, animal reproduction is a luxury in Ethiopia. We saw 5-year-old heifers that had never even been in heat. We really want to improve reproduction and show the Ethiopian people that they can do it too.”
One aspect of Project Mercy is breeding Ethiopian cattle breeds with American and European breeds, such as Jerseys—a breed of dairy cattle common in the United States.
“Breeding Ethiopian cattle with Jerseys is a good fit because Jerseys are small, they have a high fertility rate and they produce a lot of milk,” Hilton said.
In addition to the time spent on the Project Mercy campus, the Purdue team traveled to the Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine in Debre Zeyit, where they gave and listened to presentations and demonstrations.
“The trip to the veterinary school served as a way for us to establish a relationship between our program and theirs so we can continue to exchange ideas in the future,” Hilton said. “We want to be able to keep sending our students, faculty and alumni over there, and we want their students and faculty to come to Purdue. It’s a win-win situation for both universities.”
Outside of the work they were doing, the Purdue team also had a chance for some cultural experiences, including a camping trip to Awash National Park and a tour of Genesis Farms, a large-scale organic produce and livestock operation.
Mary Grabow, veterinarian and alumnus of the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, assists an Ethiopian veterinary technician in preparing a dog to be spayed. Purdue University photo courtesy of Mimi Arighi)
“I had never been to Africa, and neither had many of our participants,” said Mimi Arighi, Purdue veterinarian and director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “You hear about the struggles, but to see it is hard. The electricity doesn’t always work and they often run out of water, which hinders research. The computers are all on dial-up. It’s just difficult to make advances.”
One thing both Arighi and Hilton agreed upon was the enthusiasm of the Ethiopian people they met along the way.
“The people were just wonderful,” Hilton said. “All of the kids yelled and waved when they saw us. They treated us like stars. They were so welcoming and seemed so happy we were there. It was obvious that they were thankful for any help we could provide them.”
The Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1959 with a class of 50 students. A veterinary technology degree program was added in 1975. The highly competitive doctor of veterinary medicine degree program now accepts approximately 70 students annually to study under 115 faculty members. Since its inception, the school has trained nearly 2,800 veterinarians and 800 veterinary technicians.
The group spent several days working with Project Mercy, a U.S.-based nonprofit relief and development agency that seeks to improve both cattle and human nutrition through breeding practices.
Mark Hilton, Purdue veterinarian and clinical professor of food and animal production medicine, explains to veterinary students in Ethiopia how to properly trim cow hooves. (Purdue University photo courtesy of Mimi Arighi)
“This trip was a service project first and foremost,” said Mark Hilton, Purdue veterinarian and clinical professor of food and animal production medicine. “We knew we would be able to help out with Project Mercy and that they would appreciate any input we could provide.”
As part of their work with Project Mercy, the group calculated animal weight, administered vaccines and performed pregnancy checks.
“The thing that surprised me most was the lack of adequate animal nutrition and growth,” Hilton said. “The heifers there were only 250-350 pounds at a year old. Because of the lack of nutrition, animal reproduction is a luxury in Ethiopia. We saw 5-year-old heifers that had never even been in heat. We really want to improve reproduction and show the Ethiopian people that they can do it too.”
One aspect of Project Mercy is breeding Ethiopian cattle breeds with American and European breeds, such as Jerseys—a breed of dairy cattle common in the United States.
“Breeding Ethiopian cattle with Jerseys is a good fit because Jerseys are small, they have a high fertility rate and they produce a lot of milk,” Hilton said.
In addition to the time spent on the Project Mercy campus, the Purdue team traveled to the Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine in Debre Zeyit, where they gave and listened to presentations and demonstrations.
“The trip to the veterinary school served as a way for us to establish a relationship between our program and theirs so we can continue to exchange ideas in the future,” Hilton said. “We want to be able to keep sending our students, faculty and alumni over there, and we want their students and faculty to come to Purdue. It’s a win-win situation for both universities.”
Outside of the work they were doing, the Purdue team also had a chance for some cultural experiences, including a camping trip to Awash National Park and a tour of Genesis Farms, a large-scale organic produce and livestock operation.
Mary Grabow, veterinarian and alumnus of the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, assists an Ethiopian veterinary technician in preparing a dog to be spayed. Purdue University photo courtesy of Mimi Arighi)
“I had never been to Africa, and neither had many of our participants,” said Mimi Arighi, Purdue veterinarian and director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “You hear about the struggles, but to see it is hard. The electricity doesn’t always work and they often run out of water, which hinders research. The computers are all on dial-up. It’s just difficult to make advances.”
One thing both Arighi and Hilton agreed upon was the enthusiasm of the Ethiopian people they met along the way.
“The people were just wonderful,” Hilton said. “All of the kids yelled and waved when they saw us. They treated us like stars. They were so welcoming and seemed so happy we were there. It was obvious that they were thankful for any help we could provide them.”
The Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1959 with a class of 50 students. A veterinary technology degree program was added in 1975. The highly competitive doctor of veterinary medicine degree program now accepts approximately 70 students annually to study under 115 faculty members. Since its inception, the school has trained nearly 2,800 veterinarians and 800 veterinary technicians.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Ethiopian Minister of Health appointed by the Global Fund as chair
The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has elected Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, as the new Board Chair. Ernest Loevinsohn, Director General of the Global Initiatives Directorate in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), was elected Vice-Chair.
Since 1986, and prior to his appointment as minister in 2005, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus served in a number of expert and leadership positions within the Ministry of Health at both federal and regional levels. He is also broadly recognized for his leadership in the rapidly evolving field of global health and has been working steadily to enhance Ethiopia’s active engagement in a number of major international forums. Dr Tedros Adhanom served as Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership until May 2009, and currently chairs the UNAIDS Programme Coordination Board. Additionally, he has various roles in other advisory groups, such as the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Executive Committee of the Partners in Population and Development, the GAVI Alliance and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.
’The honor of this overwhelming vote of support belongs to my country, Ethiopia, which I am very privileged to represent. I am deeply humbled by this election and recognize well the weight of the responsibilities that come with it. The Global Fund faces big challenges ahead. But I am also optimistic about the great opportunities we now have for ensuring that this unique and innovative organization continues to be a success over the coming years”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom. “Stronger partnerships, greater engagement of implementing constituencies and clearer demonstration of the Global Fund’s impact will be key. We look forward to sharing our experiences in Ethiopia in implementing Global Fund-supported programs for expanding service delivery at the same time as building our health system. In Ethiopia, thanks to the Global Fund’s flexibility we are reaching more of our communities with essential health services and putting in place an effective national health system that can not only save many more lives now, but is also better able to fight for the future.’’
Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund, hailed Dr Tedros Adhanom’s election to the Board’s Chair and that of Ernest Loevinsohn to the Vice-Chair. “I congratulate both Minister Tedros and Dr Loevinsohn on their election and look forward to working with them over the next two years, a critical period for global health that will help determine whether the Millennium Development Goals are achieved,” Kazatchkine said.
“Minister Tedros brings invaluable experience to the Board with his close involvement in the scale-up of AIDS, TB and malaria programs and strengthening the health system in Ethiopia, as well as his leadership experience in several major global health partnerships,” said Kazatchkine. “His distinguished record as a leading voice in global health will be a great asset to the Global Fund as he assumes the role of Chair of the Board.”
Dr Ernest Loevinsohn received his Ph.D. from Princeton University, and in 1984 he was appointed as the first Staff Director of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Hunger. Following his work for Congress, Loevinsohn joined the Canadian government’s Department of Finance where he came to lead the work covering the aid budget, IMF, World Bank and G7, and served as Canada’s chief debt negotiator at the Paris Club. He then became Director General, Policy, for CIDA and went on to establish the agency’s Program Against Hunger, Malnutrition and Disease. Loevinsohn was the founding chair of the Global Stop TB Partnership. He also served as the long-time Chair of the Board of Results USA, the civil society advocacy organization working to eliminate the worst aspects of poverty. As well as his role as Vice-Chair Loevinsohn represents Canada, Germany and Switzerland on the Board of the Global Fund.
“As Vice-Chair, Dr Loevinsohn brings his broad knowledge of global health and development policy and – through his involvement since the first meetings at which the Global Fund was created - valuable institutional memory to the leadership of the Board,” said Kazatchkine.
During the seven years since its creation, the Global Fund has grown to become the dominant financier of programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, with US$ 16 billion in firm pledges and commitments of US$ 10.3 billion for programs in 140 countries. So far, programs supported by the Global Fund have averted 4 million deaths, through providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, TB treatment for 5.4 million people, and distributed 88 million bed nets.
Tedros Adhanom takes over the role of Chair from Rajat Gupta, partner and former managing director of McKinsey & Company. Loevinsohn succeeds Ms Elizabeth Mataka, Executive Director of the Zambia National AIDS Network. The new Chair and Vice-Chair took up their positions on 6 July and will chair their first Board meeting in November this year.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has a unique board structure as donor and implementing countries, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector (including businesses and foundations) and affected communities all share governance responsibilities. Donors and implementers each hold ten voting seats on the Board, while the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, UNAIDS, Roll Back Malaria/Stop TB/UNITAID (who share a seat),the Swiss government and the Global Fund Executive Director hold nonvoting seats. The Global Fund Board elects a Chair and a Vice-Chair for a two-year term. The Chair and Vice-Chair positions alternate between representatives of the donor voting group and the implementing voting group.
*****
The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.
By mid-2009, Global Fund-supported programs are estimated to have averted more than 3.5 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, antituberculosis treatment for 5.4 million people and by distributing 88 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide. The Global Fund has so far approved funding in 140 countries worth US$ 16 billion.
Since 1986, and prior to his appointment as minister in 2005, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus served in a number of expert and leadership positions within the Ministry of Health at both federal and regional levels. He is also broadly recognized for his leadership in the rapidly evolving field of global health and has been working steadily to enhance Ethiopia’s active engagement in a number of major international forums. Dr Tedros Adhanom served as Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership until May 2009, and currently chairs the UNAIDS Programme Coordination Board. Additionally, he has various roles in other advisory groups, such as the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Executive Committee of the Partners in Population and Development, the GAVI Alliance and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.
’The honor of this overwhelming vote of support belongs to my country, Ethiopia, which I am very privileged to represent. I am deeply humbled by this election and recognize well the weight of the responsibilities that come with it. The Global Fund faces big challenges ahead. But I am also optimistic about the great opportunities we now have for ensuring that this unique and innovative organization continues to be a success over the coming years”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom. “Stronger partnerships, greater engagement of implementing constituencies and clearer demonstration of the Global Fund’s impact will be key. We look forward to sharing our experiences in Ethiopia in implementing Global Fund-supported programs for expanding service delivery at the same time as building our health system. In Ethiopia, thanks to the Global Fund’s flexibility we are reaching more of our communities with essential health services and putting in place an effective national health system that can not only save many more lives now, but is also better able to fight for the future.’’
Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund, hailed Dr Tedros Adhanom’s election to the Board’s Chair and that of Ernest Loevinsohn to the Vice-Chair. “I congratulate both Minister Tedros and Dr Loevinsohn on their election and look forward to working with them over the next two years, a critical period for global health that will help determine whether the Millennium Development Goals are achieved,” Kazatchkine said.
“Minister Tedros brings invaluable experience to the Board with his close involvement in the scale-up of AIDS, TB and malaria programs and strengthening the health system in Ethiopia, as well as his leadership experience in several major global health partnerships,” said Kazatchkine. “His distinguished record as a leading voice in global health will be a great asset to the Global Fund as he assumes the role of Chair of the Board.”
Dr Ernest Loevinsohn received his Ph.D. from Princeton University, and in 1984 he was appointed as the first Staff Director of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Hunger. Following his work for Congress, Loevinsohn joined the Canadian government’s Department of Finance where he came to lead the work covering the aid budget, IMF, World Bank and G7, and served as Canada’s chief debt negotiator at the Paris Club. He then became Director General, Policy, for CIDA and went on to establish the agency’s Program Against Hunger, Malnutrition and Disease. Loevinsohn was the founding chair of the Global Stop TB Partnership. He also served as the long-time Chair of the Board of Results USA, the civil society advocacy organization working to eliminate the worst aspects of poverty. As well as his role as Vice-Chair Loevinsohn represents Canada, Germany and Switzerland on the Board of the Global Fund.
“As Vice-Chair, Dr Loevinsohn brings his broad knowledge of global health and development policy and – through his involvement since the first meetings at which the Global Fund was created - valuable institutional memory to the leadership of the Board,” said Kazatchkine.
During the seven years since its creation, the Global Fund has grown to become the dominant financier of programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, with US$ 16 billion in firm pledges and commitments of US$ 10.3 billion for programs in 140 countries. So far, programs supported by the Global Fund have averted 4 million deaths, through providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, TB treatment for 5.4 million people, and distributed 88 million bed nets.
Tedros Adhanom takes over the role of Chair from Rajat Gupta, partner and former managing director of McKinsey & Company. Loevinsohn succeeds Ms Elizabeth Mataka, Executive Director of the Zambia National AIDS Network. The new Chair and Vice-Chair took up their positions on 6 July and will chair their first Board meeting in November this year.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has a unique board structure as donor and implementing countries, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector (including businesses and foundations) and affected communities all share governance responsibilities. Donors and implementers each hold ten voting seats on the Board, while the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, UNAIDS, Roll Back Malaria/Stop TB/UNITAID (who share a seat),the Swiss government and the Global Fund Executive Director hold nonvoting seats. The Global Fund Board elects a Chair and a Vice-Chair for a two-year term. The Chair and Vice-Chair positions alternate between representatives of the donor voting group and the implementing voting group.
*****
The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.
By mid-2009, Global Fund-supported programs are estimated to have averted more than 3.5 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, antituberculosis treatment for 5.4 million people and by distributing 88 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide. The Global Fund has so far approved funding in 140 countries worth US$ 16 billion.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Black Lion Hospital: Addis Ababa
Black Lion
The largest hospital in all of Ethiopia is Black Lion. I again was granted unlimited access to video and photograph the conditions of this public facility. Black Lion is the last referral hospital in Ethiopia, if your illness requires more care then what they can offer, the next place you will go is Nairobi, Kenya and from there to South Africa. This hospital sees approximately 370,000- 400,000 patients a year but the exact number is not known. They have 800 beds, with 130 specialists, 50 non-teaching doctors. This is the largest teaching hospital for the University of Addis Medical School in Ethiopia, so there are about 350 Residents and 600 Interns. The emergency department sees around 80,000 patients a year and they just started a new trauma unit in the recent months. This hospital is a government runs hospital and with hundreds of staff and personal, I expected to find this facility in much better shape. I did not.
I was very pleased to meet with the Medical Director Dr. Daniels, head of the entire facility. He was warm and welcoming but he offered me the same word of caution about how many come through the hospital but are never seen again since the problems are so overwhelming. Again, we were extremely luck to actually videotape the conditions of the hospital because most times the government does not want this out to the public. To be honest even with the stamp of approval of the Medical Director and the Health officials, ward after ward we would have to call the head of security to get them to talk to the head of that department to let us in to film.
What is interesting is that, an American from Chicago is who contracted through John Hopkins to be the Bio Medical Engineer there, took us on the tour and she specifically asked the Medical Director were there any areas off limits and he said no. She was very happy to show us all the areas and many are most disturbing. One of the biggest problems again is all the waste that literally sits everywhere. Equipment once again that comes without instruction manuals, broken, label for parts only (which mean you would have to have the exact piece of equipment which never happens) and just the array of metal, and wood and old boilers, generator, autoclaves that sit Mold all over the ceilings and walls for years because there is no proper way to get rid of it.
The stacks of scrape metal and wood sit in huge piles and you would think that some of this could be sold to generate money for the hospital but because it is a government facility everything has to be logged and check in order to insure no one is making a profit individually. So it sits, everywhere, taking up valuable space in a facility that is way over crowded. They do try to reuse and repurpose things but it is too much, they are drowning in all the waste everywhere.
In the boiler room I counted three huge boilers plus one outside that were completely broken, currently there is only one working. The only place in the hospital that has hot water is the laundry room with has no working dyers, so every piece of laundry for 800 beds has to be hung to dry. The hospital has not had hot water for over 8 years. This city hospital is better off then the rural ones because it does have running water indoors. Honestly though they have no idea how long the last Scrape Metal boiler will hold out before the water will not be able to be pumped out to the hospital. Currently the top floors of the hospital receive no water since the one boiler is not strong enough to push the water that far.
It pretty much is the same for the generator. Sine there is a power shortage; the generator is used every other day to provide power for the entire hospital. There is a concern with it’s over use the generator will not last long and then they will be powerless. There is an old German made generator from the 50’s that still sits there but has not been used in decades.
The most disturbing things were to see the black mold growing on the walls everywhere. It is well documented that mold make a person sick and here it was everywhere but worst it was on the ceilings and walls of the kitchen. So the stream rises from the food and the mold literally drips from the ceiling into the pots of the meals prepared from over 1000 people daily. It was horrible. They know it is a problem and they had in the budget to start Wood piles.. of broken furniture a need kitchen but when is the issue???
Black Lion only has one working autoclave to sterilize instruments, out of 3 large ones that are just sitting next to each other. Another amazing things is that each day the nurses hand roll thousands of bandages for patient use, since they do not have a sterile package bandage, they can use. So bandages are just sitting around on table, and everywhere else as nurses package them by hand. With lack of resources in these hospitals infection control goes right out the window.
The largest hospital in all of Ethiopia is Black Lion. I again was granted unlimited access to video and photograph the conditions of this public facility. Black Lion is the last referral hospital in Ethiopia, if your illness requires more care then what they can offer, the next place you will go is Nairobi, Kenya and from there to South Africa. This hospital sees approximately 370,000- 400,000 patients a year but the exact number is not known. They have 800 beds, with 130 specialists, 50 non-teaching doctors. This is the largest teaching hospital for the University of Addis Medical School in Ethiopia, so there are about 350 Residents and 600 Interns. The emergency department sees around 80,000 patients a year and they just started a new trauma unit in the recent months. This hospital is a government runs hospital and with hundreds of staff and personal, I expected to find this facility in much better shape. I did not.
I was very pleased to meet with the Medical Director Dr. Daniels, head of the entire facility. He was warm and welcoming but he offered me the same word of caution about how many come through the hospital but are never seen again since the problems are so overwhelming. Again, we were extremely luck to actually videotape the conditions of the hospital because most times the government does not want this out to the public. To be honest even with the stamp of approval of the Medical Director and the Health officials, ward after ward we would have to call the head of security to get them to talk to the head of that department to let us in to film.
What is interesting is that, an American from Chicago is who contracted through John Hopkins to be the Bio Medical Engineer there, took us on the tour and she specifically asked the Medical Director were there any areas off limits and he said no. She was very happy to show us all the areas and many are most disturbing. One of the biggest problems again is all the waste that literally sits everywhere. Equipment once again that comes without instruction manuals, broken, label for parts only (which mean you would have to have the exact piece of equipment which never happens) and just the array of metal, and wood and old boilers, generator, autoclaves that sit Mold all over the ceilings and walls for years because there is no proper way to get rid of it.
The stacks of scrape metal and wood sit in huge piles and you would think that some of this could be sold to generate money for the hospital but because it is a government facility everything has to be logged and check in order to insure no one is making a profit individually. So it sits, everywhere, taking up valuable space in a facility that is way over crowded. They do try to reuse and repurpose things but it is too much, they are drowning in all the waste everywhere.
In the boiler room I counted three huge boilers plus one outside that were completely broken, currently there is only one working. The only place in the hospital that has hot water is the laundry room with has no working dyers, so every piece of laundry for 800 beds has to be hung to dry. The hospital has not had hot water for over 8 years. This city hospital is better off then the rural ones because it does have running water indoors. Honestly though they have no idea how long the last Scrape Metal boiler will hold out before the water will not be able to be pumped out to the hospital. Currently the top floors of the hospital receive no water since the one boiler is not strong enough to push the water that far.
It pretty much is the same for the generator. Sine there is a power shortage; the generator is used every other day to provide power for the entire hospital. There is a concern with it’s over use the generator will not last long and then they will be powerless. There is an old German made generator from the 50’s that still sits there but has not been used in decades.
The most disturbing things were to see the black mold growing on the walls everywhere. It is well documented that mold make a person sick and here it was everywhere but worst it was on the ceilings and walls of the kitchen. So the stream rises from the food and the mold literally drips from the ceiling into the pots of the meals prepared from over 1000 people daily. It was horrible. They know it is a problem and they had in the budget to start Wood piles.. of broken furniture a need kitchen but when is the issue???
Black Lion only has one working autoclave to sterilize instruments, out of 3 large ones that are just sitting next to each other. Another amazing things is that each day the nurses hand roll thousands of bandages for patient use, since they do not have a sterile package bandage, they can use. So bandages are just sitting around on table, and everywhere else as nurses package them by hand. With lack of resources in these hospitals infection control goes right out the window.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)