Gombe Specialist Hospital Project
Notes from the Chairman AHDT
Africa Healthcare Development Trust (AHDT) (http://www.ahdt.org.uk), a UK-based charity has successfully completed a 2 week health system improvement project at the Gombe Specialist Hospital, Gombe State, Nigeria, between 4th and 15th February 2013. This is borne out of the need to contribute our expertise towards the government’s drive to improve health care services across the state. AHDT has over the past 10 years invested its effort towards the transfer of skills and promoting the acquisition of cost effective techniques for the treatment of common conditions such as hernias, prostates, cataracts, female infertility as well as maternal and child health services. To ensure sustainability of the programme, we invited colleagues from the Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) Gombe and Azare, ABU Teaching Hospital Zaria and Murtala Hospital in Kano to collaborate with AHDT in executing the project. AHDT is happy to continue such ventures to help the Government to achieve better healthcare for its citizens thus helping to achieve the millennium development goals (MDG).
We had 5 teams involved in this visit: medical, surgical, paediatrics, gynaecology/maternity and ophthalmology. During the 2 weeks, over 1,000 adults and 1,000 children with various medical conditions were treated, 1,000 non-surgical eye conditions, 200 cataract surgeries and 79 surgical procedures were undertaken. The Paediatric team trained 79 hospital personnel and 102 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) involved in the delivery process on new-born resuscitation skills. Safe motherhood initiative training was also given to medical, nursing, and midwifery staff. Each TBA was then given a “TBA kit” for use in deliveries back in their wards.
Medical conditions treated included diabetes, hypertension, infectious diseases and meningitis.
We were able to advise on improving hygiene/cleanliness of the hospital environment, especially the labour/maternity units and the theatres, which were sub-optimal. Meetings to review causes of death of patients and discussion of lessons learnt were also introduced (Mortality Review).
Educational sessions were held on infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene practices; it was emphasised these should become daily medical practices throughout the hospital. The important role of domestic staff (cleaners) and their contribution to hospital standards were also highlighted, and the need to improve their skills.
AHDT donated to the hospital neonatal resuscitation equipment, two manikins, ambou bags for resuscitation, glucometers, HbA1c machine (diabetes monitoring machine), nebuliser machine with nebuliser ports, nebules for management of acute respiratory problems such as asthma, and medicines including antihypertensives, anti-diabetics, analgesics and antibiotics. These medicines were given to patients free of charge during the two week project. A local committee was set up to oversee the dispensing to needy patients of the remaining medicines left in the custody of the CMD and the chief pharmacist.
During our visit we met many committed staff working tirelessly against sometimes very difficult conditions. They have been inspirational to us all. However, we also observed instances of poor attitude to work from some medical and nursing staff. Patients need to be treated with respect, dignity and compassion. This area needs addressing urgently by the management. Suggestions made are aimed at improving the existing services and are not meant as a criticism of the good work that the dedicated staff are doing.
I would like to express our sincere gratitude to HE the Governor of Gombe State Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo without whose support we would not have been able to accomplish this project. We remain immensely grateful to him for his appreciation of our work and for his promise to share and introduce AHDT activities to his fellow Governors. I would also like to thank Her Excellency the First Lady of Gombe State Hajiya Adama Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for inviting the AHDT team to undertake the project. Her staff, especially Baba Hassan (SA), deserve commendation for providing administrative and logistical support.
I would also like to thank the ministry of health officials for their help. Our special thanks go to the Chief Medical Officer of GSH, Dr James Madi and his staff for being our good hosts. We hope that this project will serve as a stimulus for co-operation between AHDT and the state government, which has the mandate to ensure the rollout and sustainability of such a programme across the State. Funding for projects has been a major obstacle, but we hope to extend similar services to other hospitals in the state if the government identifies a need. To this end, I would like to recommend a regular line of communication be maintained between AHDT, the Gombe State Ministry of Health and Gombe State Government.
On a general note, to be able to provide a qualitative health service to the people of the state, the government will need to increase its budgetary allocation to meet WHO recommendations. It is critical that all service providers co-ordinate their activities to minimise duplication and reduce wastage of limited resources. The government needs to identify key qualified personnel who will share its vision to develop the state’s healthcare services.
Finally as members of the diaspora group, we have found the experience of working back home rewarding. We have gained and learnt more from our local colleagues than they perhaps have learnt from us. It is good to be reminded about how things work in Nigeria.
Thank you very much. God bless Gombe State and God bless Nigeria