MEDICAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

 

 

Laboratory

 

The laboratory department performed the basic routine and emergency tests expected of a rural hospital. In addition it also did some essential serological and biochemical tests.

 

 

 

Trends of Laboratory testing workload in the period 2003 to 2008

 

	Type of Tests	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Parasitology		13,494	13,158	11,978	11,246	14,087	16,171
Haematology		3,638	3,409	5,413	5,141	5,939	5,107
Biochemistry		3,981	4,287	4,725	4,987	7,434	6,146
Bacteriology		3,369	2,135	2,682	2,610	1,097	2,231
Serology		978	1,066	2,222	918	1,567	2,087
	Total tests (Crude)	25,460	24,055	27,020	24,902	30,124	31,742
	Total lab staffs	4	4	5	5	5	6
	Average tests per Lab staff (crude)	6,365	6,014	5,404	4,980	6,025	5,290

 

 

 

At the moment the human resources for the laboratory are adequate. This consists of 2 Technicians, 2 laboratory assistants, 1 trained laboratory attendant and 1 nursing aide.

 

 

Blood transfusion services

 

The sole source of blood remained Arua Regional Hospital. The problem of inadequate and stock outs of blood in the blood bank continued. Regular trips were made to collect the blood and the number of trips increased.  As a result, towards the end of the financial year, management reached an agreement with the laboratory staff to use public means to collect the blood from Arua. The solar powered fridge for the storage of blood is functioning well. Blood transfusions were administered mainly to the children with severe anemia, a frequent complication of malaria. The other indications for blood transfusion were GIT hemorrhage, anemia in pregnancies APH, PPH and occasionally trauma.

 

 

 

Pharmacy

 

The Pharmacy is inadequately staffed with a Pharmaceutical Assistant and an Orderly. We do not make wet pharmaceutical products except intravenous fluids. The Unit produces all the common types of the intravenous fluids required by the hospital. The under-production improved as a result of restocking of essential accessories like rubber bungs by JMS. Pharmaceutical supplies and the sundries are ordered and purchased mainly from the Joint Medical Stores. The other source is the District Directorate of Health Services stores and National Medical Stores. Adequate stocks of medicines and sundries are maintained through out the year, although there are occasional shortages of some supplies that have high rates of consumption.  The requisitions for supplies to the various departments are made, checked and approved twice a week. However there is a provision for emergency order if need be.

The stores are secure and acceptable. The organization of the items is on the basis of FIFO (First in first out) and FEFO (First expiry first out) principle. Up to now we do not have a standard method of disposal of expired drugs if any. There is quarterly stock taking done. A monitoring system of using stock cards and average monthly consumption rates exists in the stores department.  There are separate refrigerators in the pharmacy for the drugs and laboratory reagents to maintain a suitable temperature. Seldom is the list of all the available drugs displayed on the notice boards in the various wards. Treatment schedules are dictated by prescriptions by medical and clinical officers, and then implemented by the nurses. The only exception is DDAs that are prescribed by medical officers only.

Central sterilization unit

 

The electrical appliances for steam sterilizations in the wards are functional. All the autoclave for fluid production and sterilization of linen as well as those in the main theatre are functional.

Radiology Department

 

X-rays done

 

Some comments on the trend:

i                       The total x-rays decreased over the last three years; this could be due to non availability of x-ray fixers and developers experienced in the course of the year as well as improved clinical diagnosis and reliable lab investigations.

ii                     Chest x-rays was the dominant x-ray done, followed by lower and upper extremities a similar pattern as in 2007-2008.

 

 

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