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Macha Mission Hospital, what, why and whereHistory Macha Mission was established in 1906 by Brethren In Christ Church. In 1924, a Registered Nurse arrived from United States of America, with the present hospital being built about one kilometre from the main mission station in 1957. The number of hospital beds has gradually increased (in number) from 120 to the present 208 government-approved beds. The hospital now includes men’s ward (43), women’s ward (53) maternity ward (34), Paediatrics ward (51) and Continued Care Facility (27) Location Macha Hospital is located in Choma District of Southern province of Zambia. It is 70 kilometres via gravel road from the nearest town of Choma and rail-line. The land is at an attitude of 900m above sea level. The hospital is situated on a 2,000-acre track land, which is a government granted 99-year lease for mission purposes in Chief Macha’s area. Buildings All buildings are single level and are built with locally made bricks Utilities The hospital was connected to the national electrical grid in 1976, providing 24-hour electricity. A generator is available for emergency use. Water is supplied from deep boreholes and also from an earthen dam with water sedimentation system and a storage tank. Water-borne sewage system is in operation with pond. Clinical Care Services Offered by Macha Hospital The prime aim of Macha hospital is to provide the best possible both in-patient and outpatient care within the limits of available finance. Training of Zambia Enrolled Nurses and provision of Primary Health Care (PHC) are other long-standing objectives of the hospital, while malaria research is a recent established objective. The number of hospital beds has gradually increased to the present 208 government approved beds distributed as follows Continued Care Facility (CCF) (27), Male ward (43) Female ward (53) Paediatrics (51) Maternity ward (34) Under the Health reforms, Macha Hospital has been given second level referral hospital status. This level includes services at the consultant level in internal medicine, general surgery, paediatrics obstetrics and gynaecology. There is no consultant on our staff therefore the hospital is not able to provide level 2nd referral hospital services. Instead the hospital provides 1st level referral care which include medical, surgical, and obstetric, paediatric, diagnostic (Laboratory and X-ray facilities) services and all clinical services needed to provide technical support services to surrounding health centres. As a referral centre Macha hospital receives patients that are already screened at health centres. There is a health centre operating within the hospital Clinical Care Services Offered By This Hospital Wards
Specialised Clinics
Demographic Profile of the Hospital The catchment area for the hospital is poorly defined. The immediate area includes at least a radius of 40 kilometres with an estimated population of 158,543. However, as a major referral centre for twelve out-lying Rural Health Centre and Namwala District Hospital (128 kilometres away) the hospital total catchment area is much larger.
Demographic Profile of Hospital
Population Growth Rate 3.28% Birth Per Annum 4.95% 7,848 Social Economic Profile The population of the area is primarily all of the Tonga-tribe, living in small homesteads consisting of usually one extended family with the primary livelihood being one of subsistence farming. Maize is the main crop grown and the staple diet supplemented with peanut, sweet potatoes and other leafy green vegetables as relish. Most farmers in the area own, cattle, which are sold for cash and provide milk to their diet. Cattle also provide drawing power on the farms. There are several schools in the area, which have raised the level of education to grade 12 for 60% of the population. There is a fair amount of movement of the young people to and from urban areas of the country. Industrial development in the area has lacked for years and continues to be non-existence. Present Hospitals Serving The Same Catchment Area and Utilization Rates Macha Hospital is one of the two level 2 Hospitals in Choma District, the other one being a 250 bed (Choma) General Hospital.
Health Financing The hospital is largely financed by a grant from government. Government gives Macha hospital a set amount for operational expenses and salaries for Classified Employees (CEs). This grant meets 80% of the operating expenses. The difference is met by the sale of services and cost recovery. Drugs, Medical and Non-Medical Supplies Pharmacy The services provided by the Pharmacy include procurement and dispensing of drugs, preparation of parenteral fluids and traditional remedies and mixtures. The department also prepares creams, eye and ear drops and ointments. The Pharmacist also gives advice to Clinicians on new drugs. Drug supplies were reasonably good in the year 2002. This was due to many donations of medicines and supplies that were received from outside Zambia. These allowed the Hospital to maintain adequate stocks of most pharmaceuticals. This is likely to continue in 2003. The Hospital is allocated a drug basket by the Ministry of Health. This is based on the Hospital – allocated beds and cots (86). From this allocation, the Hospital is able to procure drugs from Medical Stores Limited. In addition, the Hospital uses 10% of its grant to procure drugs and other medical supplies from Pharmaceutical companies in Lusaka. Diagnostic Services Pathology Department The services of the Laboratory are of increasing importance in helping Clinicians to diagnose and treat patients by examining specimens taken from patients. These services include haematological procedures as well as blood banking. A Laboratory/Technician is responsible for carrying out these procedures. The National Blood Transfusion Policy guides blood transfusion procedures. The policy provides regulations, control and minimum standards of blood transfusion and related areas. The Hospital obtains blood bank supplies from the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service. The supply of blood packs and transfer packs was erratic throughout 2002. The packs will have to be sourced elsewhere in 2003. The blood is obtained from the surrounding secondary school pupils and patient’s relatives. Radiography Department All routine and some special radiographic investigations are made at Macha Hospital. |
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