St. Francis Hospital staff pay special tribute to Professor Robert Bleichrodt.

Many friends and workmates at St. Francis Mission Hospital in Katete Zambia joined the rest of the family and friends in Netherlands in paying their last respect to late Professor Robert Bleichrodt.
Speaking after the moving funeral ceremony which was transmitted online on Tuesday 20^th August,2024, Dr. Lalick Banda the Senior Medical Superintendent, described him as a selfless and hardworking Doctor who strived to improve the lives of people in Africa.

Dr. Ziche Makukula who worked closely with Professor Robert for many years said ’Professor Robert was a nice person who always ready to share his knowledge with others.’
Dr. Dayson Kumwenda who succeeded Professor Robert described him as a person who was always ahead of time.

Professor Robert worked at St. Francis Hospital from 2012 to 2018 as a General Surgeon. During his time at the hospital he was very instrumental in the improvement of infrastructure at the hospital culminating in the establishment of the Burns unit which was named in his honour. He also lobbied for surgical equipment, instruments and supplies.

He will also be remembered for advocating access to safe and clean water through the provisions of borehole to the community of Katete District.

The news of Professor Robert’s death was received with shock on the morning of Tuesday 13^th August,2024.

A book of Condolences has since been opened at the hospital. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace!!!

On the 27th of June the management of SFH drew up the contract with Top Firm Zambia, the contractor that won the tender for renovation and expansion of the Medical Laboratory. The works will start in July.

Mr Kapembwa Sikwewa

Mr. Kapembwa Sikwewa, the Biomedical Scientist and the Laboratory in Charge, has described the upcoming renovation and expansion of the Medical Laboratory at St. Francis Hospital as a Game Changer.
Mr. Sikwewa: “The renovation will promote safety for patients and staff, good organisation and increase the profile of investigations to be done. This will eventually help the SFH Medical Laboratory to meet the standards for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation.”

The Medical Support Group and Wildegeese of the Netherlands will fund this 100.000 Euro worth project. These major works will be supervised by SFH project manager, Mr Chungu Mutale.

Authored by Fred P. Ntongwe

During the last rainy season, Zambia has experienced extremely low rainfall, culminating in the worst drought the country has experienced since records began.
The effects were most clearly observed in crop production: one million hectares of planted maize has been adversely affected across 84 of the 116 districts in Zambia
Similarly, pasture availability has reduced for animals.
To beat the problems the focus is now on distribution of available food across the country, e.g.extra food for schools meals, under 5 clinics and consultation points for pregnant women.
The hospital also experiences the results of the drought with more malnutrition patients than ever.
Also the mais they serve in the wards will cost more than in the past years.
Due to the low rainfall, lakes like Lake Kariba are not full enough to give the whole country electricity. Zesco no longer provides electricity for 8 hours during the day.

In his statement on the drought of April 16, Mr. Hakadainde Hichilema appealed to the international community, the partners within the country, the private sector, the church and civil society to support Zambia.

Mr Chungu B Mutale reports:

The renovation of the Kizito surgical ward has successfully been completed and the patients have been moved back in the ward.
The actual delivery period surpassed the initially proposed one. Some of the challenges that might have led to this are:
(1) the countless stoppages during the roofing works as this activity was carried out during the rainy season,
(2) No other works could be done simultaneously with the roofing works as patients were still in Kizito ward when the roofing was started on the Mukasa side (Mukasa patients moved out first to allow the contractor to replace the roofing on the Mukasa side, then Kizito patients moved out later to allow the continuation of the roof replacement and to allow the rest of the interior works to commence) and
(3) the slight delay in the rectification of snags by the contractor. Clearly the above factors were not considered the time the acceptable delivery period was being drafted.
The project is now in the Defect Liability phase for further rectification of any snags that will come up during the operation of the ward for the next six months.
This was project of the St Francis Hospital MSG (Netherlands) and Wilde Ganzen (Netherlands)

by John Mwanza

Malou Sorbi is a medical student from Netherlands. She came to St. Francis Hospital on 27^th May, 2023 and left on 7^th July, 2023. She was inspired to come to Zambia at St. Francis Hospital Katete by a friend who once did his medical experience at St. Francis Hospital early 2023 who was also from Netherlands.
Malou’s interest was to learn about surgical conditions and their treatments, how health care services are provided and also to learn the Zambian culture and language. “I have learnt a bit of Chichewa and I love it. People appreciate it when you try the local language”. In an interview Malou said, “my experience at St. Francis Hospital is very good. In my first two weeks I was getting used to the work in the wards and theatre. After two weeks things got very nice. St. Francis Hospital is a good place to get working experience”. Malou worked in two surgical wards (Kizito Male ward and Mukasa Female ward).

“Doctors in surgical wards are working very hard to provide good health care. Sometimes drugs and other working materials are not available, but they still figure out to do it the other way with the equipment they have. I have seen patients come from far to be helped in St. Francis Hospital, also because it’s known as a good hospital’’. Malou loved the meals prepared at the Mess. “Meals at the Mess are very nice and varying. I loved eating from there and I will definitely miss it’’ she said.

‘’To my follow medical students who consider to come to St. Francis Hospital, I can say that it’s a very good decision to come here and it will be an amazing experience. I can recommend it to everyone! Learn what people do here, eat the good food and learn how people are positive to be treated at the Hospital” she said.