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Overview of Hospital and
Health Centre Services in 2001
Embangweni Hospital and its Health Centers had a relatively busy year. A summary of some key statistics is given in the tables below. For more details see Annex 1 - Hospital and Health Centre Statistics 2001. Summary of Services Provided (all sites) 1999-2001
Top Five Inpatient Diagnosis by Ward
Top 5 Inpatient Causes of Death by Ward
Ward by Ward Admissions / Mortality
In 2002, Embangweni Mission Hospital will celebrate it's centenary along with the other institutions comprising Loudon Station. We are very thankful to the Lord for bringing us to this point and for the growth in the medical work here. As we enter a second century, it is appropriate to take stock of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that we face. Strengths:Our hospital is well known for its provision of quality medical care. The consistently high numbers of outpatients, and low inpatient death rate (one of the best in Malawi) bear testimony to the attentiveness and skill of our staff. We remain committed to Primary Healthcare (PHC) as the most cost effective and sustainable way to improve the health of our community.
Our major problem remains the shortage of nursing staff in Malawi. We enter 2002 with nearly every clinical post filled, but only 28% of the nurses we need. In 2001, we began the process of becoming a clinical teaching site of Ekwendeni nursing school - a process that will hopefully be completed by 2004/5. Our HIV/AIDS program has lacked an effective home-based care component, although we have identified funding to begin a small-scale project in 2002. Our number of dental patients is relatively low, despite our excellent facilities. In 2001 we identified and sponsored the training of a local dental student who will begin work here in 2003. Although we are very thankful for the support of our partners overseas, we are conscious that we have not made any real progress in becoming less donor dependant for several years. Admittedly, the poor economic conditions prevailing in Malawi are such that significant headway in this area is unlikely. Opportunities:In 2002, we hope to open a 4th health centre at Mhaurunda. This facility was built by World Vision, and is 10km north west of Embangweni. At the request of the local community, we have agreed to staff and run the centre, providing outpatient medical and low-risk maternity care as we do at our other health centres. We are well placed to conduct clinical research, and several articles from Embangweni have been published in the medical literature over the last 3 years. We hope to attract further research projects. Threats:HIV/AIDS threatens the hospital on at least 3 fronts. Firstly by reducing the number of available trained staff, as tutors and providers alike succumb to the disease. Secondly, the sheer numbers of patients suffering from AIDS has placed an immense burden on the health care system in Malawi. Thirdly life expectancy has fallen dramatically, depriving the hospital of an economically active patient base which could provide sustainable funding for the future. The hospital faces an additional threat in that our aging X-ray machine is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, and is in need of replacement [estimated cost US$30,000] |
