In memoriam Prof. Dr. Robert Bleichrodt

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 20th 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 13th August,2024.

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

 

Sewer rehabilitation project

On the 26th of June the management of SFH signed a contract with MUSP Works Limited Zambia.
This contractor was selected to undertake the rehabilitation part of the sewer system at the hospital.
The works commenced in July. They will include a construction of a septic tank, soak-away and construction of a 300meters septic pipe line.

The hospital has been using septic tanks and soak-away but with the increase in population of staff and patients, this system is no longer sustainable.

This small project will contribute to the improvement of the disposal of sewer effluent, thereby preventing stagnation and flooding. It will to a certain extent mitigate water pollution, maintain environmental health and hydrological balance in the short term.
But it is clear that the hospital requires a total overhaul of the sewer system in a long term.

The Medical Support Group of Netherlands and Wild Geese will fund this 5,600 Euro worth project.
These major works will be supervised by SFH project manager, Mr. Chungu Mutale.

 

Authored by Fred P. Ntongwe

 

 

 

 

 

Excavation of the septic tank

Renovation of the Medical Laboratory – a game changer for patients and staff

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

Draught in Zambia

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.

Renovation Laboratory

The Dutch Medical Support Group of St Francis’ Hospital has agreed to finance the total renovation of the Laboratory. This is a big project of an estimated 100.000 Euros, which is more expensive than the initial estimate, due to the considerably raised cost of materials. Fortunately, a long-standing partner of MSG, Wilde Ganzen Foundation (Wild Geese) is going to participate and grant a generous subsidy.
A BoQ has been drawn up by Mr Chungu Mutale, SFH’s capabel project manager,  and after the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been signed by both the boards, the project will be on its way!

Project renovation St Kizito completed

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)

‘My experience at St. Francis’

“My Experience at St. Francis”

By Kitty Bird, 3rd Year Medical Student, Ireland

My time is St. Francis was incredible – I arrived very nervous to experience such a different hospital environment, with diseases I had never come across. I visited St. Francis because of my friend Tiernan, he had stayed there the year before and told me all about it and how kind everyone in St. Francis and Katete had been, and how much he learned.

Our accommodation and food was provided in the hospital campus and we felt very safe and comfortable we stayed in little apartments with their own kitchens and bathrooms so we could cook our own food if we wanted to. We also had 3 meals a day and laundry included in our accommodation cost, provided by Tanzan and the other mess staff. The food was always delicious and anytime I went in to see if they had an extra bread roll for me they would come out with a full plate of rolls freshly baked. All of this came at a really good price for us and was definitely affordable for students.

The staff were all incredibly kind to us and welcomed us instantly – particularly Dr. Tim and rest of his team that I started out with in Internal Medicine. It was all very new to me – some of the diseases I had never even heard of, how they treated patients with so much less resources than at home in Ireland, patients who spoke a different language – but the team took so much time to answer my questions, explain what patients were saying and what was going on, and showed me a whole new range of clinical skills. The dedication and perseverance of the staff was incredibly admirable, especially in such a challenging environment – and this was probably the biggest thing I took away from St. Francis, that when I graduate hopefully I can return and help the hospital in the life changing work they’re doing.

We also loved staying in Katete and going into town to explore the markets, play pool and cards and go dancing. Everyone in Katete was incredibly welcoming, and every Thursday we went with some of the doctors for dinner in Pangani Lodge – which was always delicious. We made so many new friends, who we played music with, learned Chichewa, drove around Katete, and learned how to tie our Chitenges hahaha. I will never forget everyone we met in Katete and St. Francis hospital and hope to see everyone again next summer!

I am very happy that I could see where the money we raised is going to and that I was lucky enough to meet the people it will help. I also learned so much from a medical perspective – giving medications, writing patient notes, assisting in Caesarian sections. I am so grateful to St. Francis for the opportunity they give to students and for all the work they do in Katete and neighbouring towns. I will absolutely be back next summer to do the same, with more skills to assist and learn from the brilliant staff of St. Francis. Zikomo Kwambiri!!

Young doctors at St Francis’ Hospital

by John Mwanza

Malou Sorbi is a medical student from Netherlands. She came to St. Francis Hospital on 27th May, 2023 and left on 7th 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.

 

 

Power Generator for St Francis’

St. Francis Hospital is grateful to receive a power generator. Ministry of Health has given St. Francis Hospital a power generator. This power generator will help the hospital to supply power when there is power interruption from ZESCO power which has been a challenge to the hospital.