“BHM Trauma Center to benefit all categories of orthopedic and trauma patients” – Dr. Ndasi

The Trauma Center of Baptist Hospital Mutengene (BHM) went operational in March 2022 on the behest of the increasing number of trauma patients worsened by a disorganized triage and admission pathway. Chief Medical Officer and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ndasi Henry says, “This made us see the need for the creation of a unit where the staff gain experience in the processes as well as provide adequate first line management to trauma patients most especially and to all other emergencies as well”. According to him, it is important to be able to identify the critical signs, do relevant investigations, and institute timely management.

The Center was conceived to have an area for triage, urgent x-ray and ultrasound investigations as well as a mini laboratory and blood bank. This is for the ground floor. The rest of the building is to provide additional bed space.

Involvement of Hope and Healing International Canada

Baptist Hospital Mutengene did not have a unit for pediatric orthopedics so children with deformities and trauma who were operated upon, were all cramped together with adults without a child-friendly space.  “Through discussions with the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEPD) Program Manager, he was able to understand the urgent need for bed space and so identified Hope and Healing International (HHI) Canada as a source for possible funds that could be used rapidly to achieve tangible and measurable results in a short time. That we succeeded to do. As such Hope and Haling graciously made some funds available in May 2022.  Unfortunately, it could not extend to the physiotherapy department, which the hospital will find ways to complete when the means are available,” Dr. Ndasi narrates.

Quizzed about BHM’s participation in the Hope and Healing International projects portfolio, Dr. Ndasi disclosed that following an investment of 50.000 Canadian dollars in setting up the completion of the pediatric ward, BHM is poised to increase timely access to treatment and rehabilitation services to an annual average of 200 children at risk of disabling conditions. This would contribute to the documentation of profiles in support of Hope and Healing International’s fundraising strategy.

The Trauma Center is actually a multi-storey building with four floors costing over 200 million upon completion. The ground floor has been completed and put to use. It has 4 operating rooms and an observation area. The first floor consists of a 20-bed capacity, pediatric ward with child-friendly space and accessible toilets. In addition, it has a well-conceived physiotherapy unit with an orthopedic workshop, which is, however, uncompleted due to a lack of resources.

The Center doesn’t yet have the x-ray, ultrasound, and laboratory and so the facilities are hosting other departments for now. With the lull in the sociopolitical crisis and the economic depression, there seems to have been a drop in trauma cases so less use of the section. The ramp is under construction while the second and third floors still have a lot of work to be done.

The challenge now is getting all the floors as well as the ramp and elevator completed to make it fully accessible. The Trauma Center has only the staircase for now. It will also require beds and furniture. The Center will benefit all categories of orthopedic and trauma patients. It will have 10 private rooms when completed and also provide better patient accommodation space, as well as a library, on-call rooms, and an education /research unit. The front multi-level balustrade will provide additional office space for various services below which will be the ambulance parking and patient landing area.

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