Bo Children's Hospital Medical Press Release January 2014
Bo Children's Hospital Medical Press Release January 2014
Bo Children's Hospital
A snapshot in time
Bo Children's Hospital has now been open and treating patients for nearly two years and is making a significant difference to the health and well being of the children of Bo. In November last year the hospital treated over 300 children with a wide range of conditions. Gastro-enteritis, one of the major killers of children under 5 in Sierre Leone is the most prevalent problem, followed by the common cold, sepsis and then malaria, as the chart below shows. Many of these conditions would not be that serious in the developed world but in Sierre Leone which has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world these conditions are indeed life threatening.
The hospital often approaches its maximum bed capacity and for the last week in November had 100% bed occupancy. The chart indicates that was operating between 80- 100% capacity during that period.
Fortunately and through good care the mortality rate is low with only one infant death at the hospital in that month.
Most admissions occur overnight with patients and family making considerable use of the hospital's mobile phone hotline. The hospital 12-seater vehicle is usually used as an ambulance to transport patients to the referral and other hospitals, and it is also used for urgent delivery of pathology and medical supplies. Dehydration, through gastro-enteritis and fever accounted for most presentation but these common symptoms can be fatal if not treated correctly and promptly. Medical supplies and facilities are usually in dire straits in the country and are usually inaccessible to most patients in the rural settings even if they are available. The majority of these patients are at the lowest end of the social economic scale and are unable to afford basic medical expenses. A simple feeding tube worth about $1 can be the bridge between life and death in these situations.
The hospital has been very efficient in treating these symptoms with a cohesive, committed and efficient medical team. Nursing staff, including nursing students on work placements, covers the hospital with three shifts, morning, afternoon andnight.
The overall project is still in its first stage and expansion to be able to accommodate more beds (40) and specialist services including radiography and more advanced laboratory techniques is in the planning stage. The demand is clear and the hospital is doing exactly as it was set up to do. The hospital has a very simple vision
TO TREAT, TEACH, TRAIN, TO IMPROVE CHILD SURVIVAL AND HEALTH.
It is fulfilling that vision and saving children's lives
The Rotary Club of Bournemouth East Cliff remains one of the partners in this major project in establishing a specialist children's hospital in Bo, the second city of Sierra Leone. Working with the Rotary Clubs of Turramarra in Australia and the community of Bo it has been active in fund raising and currently is paying the salary for one of the senior nurses.
