From the Annual Report of the Central Hospital Rusayu, D.R.Congo
We are all hearing how hospitals can be stretched to the limit, especially during a pandemic. Limited budget, staffing and resources are a daily struggle for the Central Hospital in Rusayu where the staff are doing a miraculous job everyday, saving lives in a community where there is no means to pay for care.
The Central Hospital is one of only 2 small hospitals serving a region with a population of about 240,000 people. Limited space, staff and resources mean that this is a very tall order indeed in an area where poverty, disease, conflict and rape are commonplace, but without it things would be so much worse.
The hospital has 2 doctors, 6 nursing staff with one doubling as a pharmacist, one midwife, an ultrasound technician, a nutritionist and a laboratory technician. There are also an ambulance driver, 2 admin staff, a cleaner and a part time chaplain. The main building, originally designed as a maternity clinic, takes both male and female patients with a whole variety of medical, surgical and maternity needs. Space is very limited and some areas have more than one function. A further smaller building is also used to its capacity with a space for medical consultations, dentistry, prenatal consultations, health education, child and adult vaccinations, administration and a guard room for the nurses.
In 2020 1864 consultations were carried out of which 434 people were admitted to the hospital for inpatient care. The staff oversaw 174 births of which 31 were C-sections. 48 surgeries were performed of which 15 were major. 154 sexual violence cases where treated. 175 cases of malaria, 87 cases of typhoid fever and 6 cases of HIV/AIDS were also treated.
Undoubtedly many of these would have died if this hospital did not exist. We are grateful for the expertise and tenacity of the staff. The Central Hospital has also been a hub for the distribution of food and replacement clothing for the many, many rape survivors, some traveling for more than a day to access treatment.
By now hospital staff should have been being paid by the local health authority but they have not, as yet, been forthcoming on this. This means there is an obligation for Comfort International to support staff as well as fund medicines, other medical resources, water, power, the ambulance and the upkeep of the buildings.
Every life is precious and in saving a life we may also be saving the generations to come. We will do our best to keep saving lives at this hospital and if you have a heart to help us in anyway please get in touch.