Category: Medical

Amid the conflict that started in 2016, health personnel have faced tremendous persecution in line with their duties, but they have never given up fighting to save lives. Though the Konye District Hospital operates in the unrest in Meme Division, the South West region, the staff have braved the odds to keep to their Hippocratic oath, even after suffering a four-year closure.

The Chief of the Health District in Konye, Dr Nzozone Henry, summarised this ordeal by saying that ‘Konye is a highly insecure zone yet over the past 3 years these staffs have put in their last sweat and blood to ensure the people of Konye receive quality healthcare which is a fundamental human right.’

On December 22, 2023, the efforts of the Konye District Health Services Staff were compensated in a prize award ceremony that brought together, traditional rulers, South West regional health officials, administrative and security officers.

The Chief of the Health District in Konye, Dr. Nzozone Henry, revealed that the hospital had been
in ruins with equipment stolen, and when they reopened in April 2021, they realized there was nothing left to operate with but with concerted efforts, there was a massive turnaround with positive advocacy targetting Government institutions, Councils, NGOs, and well-wishers. ‘In June 2021, we secured the donation of an Ultra Modern Autoclave and Oxygen concentrator by the ISLAMIC BANK. In June 2021, we secured material donations from the Konye Municipal Council to 8 facilities in the district worth 35 million FCFA. July 2023 we Installed a solar power system to provide lighting to the Konye District hospital and power all laboratory equipment.’ He revealed.

Donations also came from the South West Regional Assembly, GAVI, Ministry of Public Health, CERAC Women, and UNICEF among others.

The Staff used this equipment and support and changed the status of the hospital from ruins to life!

These achievements are the main reasons why the Staff of the Konye District Hospital were awarded prizes for the swift transf
ormation of the health institution.

‘Recognizing and rewarding the efforts of our staff is essential for maintaining motivation and morale. By presenting these price awards, we aim to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. This recognition will not only encourage our staff to continue striving for excellence but also serve as an inspiration to others in the community. Moreover, acknowledging the achievements of our staff helps to strengthen the bond between the health services and the community. By showcasing the positive impact of their work, we can foster a sense of pride and unity, which is crucial for the continued success of our healthcare services.’ The Chief of the Health District in Konye emphasized.

Categories

Neatest health facility

Best facility in timeliness and completeness of reports

Most proactive facility in universal health coverage

Facility with best data quality for malaria

Best chief of center

Facility with best data quality for EPI

Certificate of recognition

M
ost dedicated community health worker

Most punctual staff District Hospital Konye

Most dedicated staff District Hospital Konye

Best behaved staff District Hospital Konye

Most hardworking staff District Hospital Konye

Best health area chairman

Best focal point communication

While thanking the administration, traditional rulers, the Council, and well-wishers, the Chief of the Health District paid a special tribute to the Staff, adding ‘Let us also look forward to the future and the continued growth of our healthcare services. Together, we can ensure that the people of Konye District receive the best possible care, now and in the years to come.’

Future projects include:

Enroll all targets for Universal health coverage in Konye and further ensure they benefit from all the packages put in place by the State.

Advocate for the improvement of human resources, more doctors, more nurses, more midwives

Invest in the training and development of our staff to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge t
o deliver the best possible care.

Advocate for more bikes to cover all remaining 9-health facilities

Advocate for infrastructural maintenance of all health facilities

Advocate for solar power installations for all health facilities

Continuing to collaborate with local and international partners to access the latest medical advancements and technologies.
Source: Cameroon News Agency

As the country pushes to improve and strengthen primary healthcare as the backbone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the nurses’ fraternity has complained of being sidelined. The nurses under their umbrella, Kenya Progressive Nurses Association (KPNA), said they have been totally left out of the discussions and debate revolving around primary healthcare despite being their line duties in delivery of healthcare at the grassroots. KPNA President Michael Nyongesa said their contribution should not be ignored in the realization of UHC given their knowledge, competence and expertise as well as leadership. ‘Nurses have been trained on community health and as such primary healthcare and universal health coverage cannot be successful without their involvement,’ Nyongesa said. Speaking on Tuesday during the association’s three-day annual scientific conference being held in Embu, Nyongesa said they are the go between the patients and doctors and so their role cannot be wished away. He said they must be part and parcel of every discussion around healthcare provision at the grassroots for better health outcomes by placing more emphasis on preventive interventions such as screening, counselling and precautionary medications which are their duties. The president said that reports from community health workers and referrals essentially end up at the hands of nurses who coordinate care in collaboration with health care professionals. ‘What we need clarity on is why we are not involved yet whenever medical reports of patients are needed we are the ones called upon to do so,’ he said. Nyongesa said the devolving of healthcare to counties only served to weaken healthcare delivery as the majority of counties lack resources and capacity to handle the sector. ‘It is during devolution that we have witnessed rampant delays in payment of salaries, lack of promotion and skewed employment that has given rise to a state of despondency within the nursing fraternity,’ he said. He called on the Council of Governors (CoG) to take up the issues to streamline healthcare provision across all the counties. Embu Deputy Governor Kinyua Mugo who was the main guest at the conference, said they had initiated talks with healthcare workers to improve their working conditions. He said they are currently addressing the issue of shortage of nurses whereby they recently employed 75 nurses and are looking forward to double that number before the close of the current financial year. He also announced they had opened discussions with the workers with a view of putting those on contract on permanent employment.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The County First Ladies’ Association has donated medical kits to the County Government of Marsabit, geared towards improving the delivery of health services to residents. The donation presented to the County Governor’s spouse, Alamitu Jattani, and the Department of Health Leadership at the County referral hospital by the association vice chairperson, Agnes Ochilo, comprised of 500 sets of scrubs worth Sh7.5 million. The donation is expected to boost Ms. Jattani’s efforts in advocating for effective delivery of quality health services and the wellbeing of the residents of Marsabit, especially women. Mrs. Ochilo, who is the spouse of Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, called on health workers in the county to spearhead the campaign against cancer by encouraging locals to go for screening and treatment. She pointed out that a cancer clinic established and equipped at the hospital should be made use of in order to check on the spread of the disease and lessen the suffering of those ailing. The governor’s spouse decried the low rate of response by women to be screened for cervical and breast cancer and urged that the campaign be heightened. The four sub-county hospitals, namely Kalacha, Laisamis, Moyale, and Sololo, would also benefit from the donations. The ceremony, which was also witnessed by Beatrice Sakaja (Nairobi), Sabina Mwadime (Taita Taveta), and Rukia Mohamed (Mandera), was preceded by a belated celebration of the international day of the girl child that was held at the local Catholic social hall. Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) donated dignity packs for distribution to girls in need before proceeding to crown Mrs. Alamitu Jattani for steering Championing Evidence-Based Advocacy (CEBA) for primary health care. Through her endeavour, Ms. Jattani has been instrumental in the implementation of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAHAN), which has made the county make big strides in the provision of accessible and quality health care. Ms. Jattani has also been at the forefront in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the county, which saw her initiate an alternative rite of passage programme to safeguard girls from female genital mutilation (FGM). The county first ladies present rooted for education for all children, irrespective of gender, saying that was the only way the country could achieve meaningful development. They further called for an enhanced fight against FGM and forced marriages not only among communities in Marsabit but countrywide in order to effectively curtail unwanted pregnancies among the youth. ‘I want to urge parents to prioritise the education of their children, as that is the only way you can prepare them for a bright future,’ said Ms. Ochilo, reminding children that they also have the responsibility of taking care of their parents in old age. Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali, who attended the crowning ceremony, said his administration was teaming up with partners to ensure that there was an enabling working environment for health personnel in the county. The governor added that budget allocations to the health sector would continue to be increased so as to ensure that there were adequate drugs and medical equipment. He reiterated the importance of primary health care, which he noted went hand in hand with a literate population, and asked parents to invest in the education of their children. The long-day event was also attended by the local CEC for Health, Galmo Boru, the head of the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium, Dr. Michuki Maina, and the CEC for Culture and Tourism, Jeremmy Ledanyi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

By Nambu Bernadette The The Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie has called on the Cameroonian public to take preventive measures against conjunctivitis as the disease is currently spreading rapidly.

In a press release dated October 30, the minister called on the public “to go to the nearest health facility in case of symptoms and to respect preventive measures against diseases transmitted by lacrimal or respiratory secretions”.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include fever and a runny nose. The disease causes the whites of the eyes to be reddish and have a yellowish discharge. It is a benign disease and epidemics usually result from highly contagious viruses.

According to the minister, the situation has the potential of spreading in the community in schools and workplaces throughout Cameroon.

Minister Malachie also added that other measures that can reduce the spread of the disease include “washing hands regularly with clean water and soap or using a hydro-alcoholic solution. Avoiding rubbing of eyes in case of symptoms. Limiting close contact with people suffering from conjunctivitis without protection, using of single-use towels or tissues.”. His release also stated that “expulsion from schools and workplaces is recommended for people with conjunctivitis”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Namibia is facing a severe health burden, with metastatic breast cancer patients frequently detected at a late stage, complicating treatment and outcomes.

This was said by Rolf Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN), on the sideline of the Pink Friday campaign held in Windhoek. Pink Friday is aimed at rallying Namibians in a united stand against breast cancer.

In Namibia, more than 540 women are diagnosed with a form of breast cancer annually, he said.

Hansen said that while the situation of late detection is not uncommon in lower and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, it is imperative that Namibia takes proactive steps towards change.

“Through concerted efforts and a determination to address this challenge, we can drive the change needed to reshape the narrative and provide hope that can save lives,” he said.

Hansen also said the vision to combat breast cancer in Namibia encompasses the establishment of rural breast screening programmes, specialised breast clinics, and the enhancement of district screening units with state-of-the-art equipment.

“CAN eagerly anticipates ongoing collaborations with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as other key stakeholders, to transform this vision into a reality,” he said.

The CAN CEO added that breast cancer is a global concern and in Africa, it presents specific challenges that demand focused attention.

“Together, we can make a meaningful impact and provide vital support to those affected by this disease,” concluded Hansen.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in Windhoek are investigating separate alleged housebreaking incidents that happened over the weekend.

One such incident occurred on Saturday, when a group of unknown men reportedly entered a flat at Otjomuise, held its occupants at gunpoint and pangas, before robbing them of their properties valued at N.dollars 49 000.

The properties include two laptops, one Samsung television (TV) set and an iPhone 13.

A NamPol weekly crime report availed on Monday indicated that the incident happened around 00h00 when the flat’s door was left open.

In another incident at Single Quarters, an unknown suspect allegedly broke a kindergarten’s burglar door, gained entry and stole 19 plastic chairs, five plastic tables, toiletries and stationery, all valued at N.dollars 101 100.

The incident happened on Friday around 07h00 in Helena Angula Street, it said.

No recovery or arrest has been made.

Another housebreaking with intent to steal and theft case was registered, after suspects allegedly used unknown objects to break and gain entry into a house in Otjomuise on Saturday. The suspects stole two Samsung TVs, one sound bar and one Samsung A12 cellphone. The incident reportedly happened around 03h00.

The stolen items are valued at N.dollars 22 000.

Meanwhile, a case of theft under false pretence was registered, after a suspect allegedly took the complainant’s restaurant equipment valued at N.dollars 40 000 from a plot at Brakwater and failed to pay for them or to return them between August 2023 and 20 October 2023.

The items include one oven, one steel table and one fan. No recovery has been made. The suspect is yet to be arrested.

Police investigations into all matters continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency