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Bush hospital in Sané
When Sascha Abrahamowicz initiated a co-operation between the village of Sané and a loose circle of Austrian supporters in the mid Eighties, one of the first successes was the establishment of a primary health care post. This was expanded to a full bush hospital in 1997 in order to ensure the medical coverage of the region.
Sascha financed the structural work, while the building costs were kept low due to substantial help of the village population. After completion, the state sent a community health worker, who has since been heading the organisation. The village community elected a management committee (comité de gestion) and organised the formation of the required apothecary. The two former nurses of the PSP now work in the new bush hospital.
In 2000, the state financed the urgently needed maternity ward, which is crucial for the sustainable operation of the whole structure. Most of the revenues come from the income of the maternity ward - a dispensary alone would usually accumulate a deficit, due to its higher cost of materials employed (drugs, dressings etc.).
LAAFI financed the equipment of both units and regularly controls current expenditure together with the management committee. Furthermore, observations after the first few years of successful operation have shown that the efficiency of the CSPS could be much enhanced through a few simple and cost-effective measures: As a first step, a gas-powered refrigerator was purchased in fall 2000. This facilitates the execution of WHO financed inoculation campaigns. the further steps are explained below:
Equipment of Dispensary and Maternity Ward
Although the buildings of the CSPS were soon completed with the help of the local population and financial support from LAAFI and the state of Burkina (in the case of the maternity ward), medical equipment and all fixtures were missing in both units. In co-operation with the German medical relief agency Action Medeor and an Austrian development project in the North of Burkina Faso, LAAFI organised the required materials and fixtures. Furthermore, we set up a fund, which enables the pharmacy - one of the main sources of revenue for the centre - to operate until the maternity ward opens. As long as there were no revenues from the maternity ward, we also agreed to pay the salaries of the two community health workers and the apothecary for a limited period of two years.
Gas powered refrigerator
Bush hospitals execute WHO and UNICEF sponsored inoculation campaigns. In order to guarantee the efficacy of the vaccines administered, they have to be kept cooled constantly. In rural areas of tropical Africa, electrical refrigerators are virtually non-existent - gas powered refrigerators can guarantee an intact cooling chain and hence a safe execution of the immunisation campaigns. Furthermore, less frequently used vaccines and antidotes, for example against snake-bites, can be stored in those fridges and used in case of emergencies. LAAFI financed the acquisition of a combi-device, which can be powered by gas and electricity.
Microskop
Malaria is by far the most frequent condition - about a third of registered cases in medical centres in Burkina Faso are related to Malaria. In order to demarcate the condition from other feverish infections, it is necessary to conduct simple blood-tests, whereby blood smears are stained and viewed under a microscope. In case of Malaria, the infectious protozoae can be discerned and proper therapeutics can be supplied. This test is simple, inexpensive and routinely done by the staff of bush hospitals - if the necessary equipment is available.
LAAFI has equipped both the bush hospital in Sané and the Centre Médical in the district capital Tanghin Dassouri with microscopes.
Housing for the Midwife
Although the building of the maternity ward (maternité) was financed by the state, a housing unit for the midwife was still to be realised. Due to the imminent completion of the maternité, this task acquired particular urgency. During the year 2000, LAAFI has collected the necessary €13,000 from private donors. The building work could thus be started with the beginning of the rainy season 2001. As a result of the strong involvement of the population, the work is making good progress and is nearing completion.
Solar Power System
The equipment of the CSPS with electrical devices such as refrigerator and microscope makes a solar power system sensible. Apart from the fridge, which consumes €20 worth of gas per month, fans and electrical lighting for the whole institution including adjunct living quarters of the midwife and health workers are required. Together with the Management Committee of the CSPS, LAAFI will realise such a solar power system step-by-step over the next three years.
Water Pump
Open wells often constitute health hazards through pollution or as a source for accidents. The next well to the CSPS is almost a mile off - a distance hardly manageable for patients with decapacitating conditions such as Malaria. One of our next projects will be the construction of a covered pump well next to the bush hospital. |
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| On the left the health post in Sané which is supported by LAAFI, on the right a meeting with the Comité de Gestion. |
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| Group picturewith Dr. Denis Yameogo and the Comité de Gestion (left) and the Dispensaires pharmacy with pharmacist Gilbert (right). |
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LAAFI financed Microskope in action at the Centre Médical von Tanghin Dassouri. |
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