Busy times at the clinic

Projectupdate van 8 maart 2017 door Jan-Paul Apon en Elise de Jong


REPORT OF OUR VISIT

We talked to the nurse that was in the clinic when we arrived. She had only been working there for three months, but she could tell us that on a quiet day, around 50- 60 patients would visit the clinic. However, on busier days this number can easily go up to a hundred or more!

The catchment area of the clinic counts approximately 6000 - 7000 people.

Most of the patients that come in have malaria, respitory infections, chicken pocks or HIV/Aids. There is also an overwhelming amount of births in the area. Around thirty births per month.

The local government is doing a good job at preventing home deliveries in the villages. They have placed traditional birth attendents in the area who look out for pregnant women and file them. This way these attendents can visit the pregnant women to give information about the signs of possible dangers during the pregnancy and telling them to go to the clinic if any of these signs occur. The traditional birth attendants also adress the importance of going to the clinic to give birth. Women who still choose to give birth in the village are charged with a penalty fee.

There were no statistics available when we visited, because the person in charge was not in, as he was not well. But it is evident that this clinic plays a crucial role for Nkolongs and its (far) surroudings.


CURRENT STATUS OF THE BUIDLING

The building was in a good state and being used intensively for the purpose it was built. There is electricity in the building.