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A new hospital has opened its doors in Obokote in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thanks to international health charity Merlin.
Obokote Hospital is the result of collaboration by different parties who all want the same thing – safe and sustainable hospital care for local people.
Merlin, which has been providing health care in the DRC since 1997, managed the construction of the 61-bed building. Merlin has been working closely with the Ministry of Health to make sure that the hospital’s services meet the needs of the population. Funding for the building, which has two wells and an entire water harvesting and capture system, has come from the British government via its ‘UK AID’ programme.
There has been an extensive training programme funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and supported by Merlin to ensure that the hospital’s doctors, nurses and support staff have the right skills to meet the medical needs of the local community. Topics have included emergency obstetric care, gynaecology, inpatient care and hospital hygiene and sanitation. There has also been training on family planning and a specific three week course for primary healthcare management training.
The hospital is a referral hospital, meaning that health workers from surrounding areas can refer patients when they need more advanced care than local skills and facilities can safely cater for. To ensure that it is used appropriately, training has been given to health workers so that they know when and how to refer patients.
The project was conceived in 2010, with work starting in 2011. Construction of the hospital – which has a generator and a solar power system – took just over a year. Before the new hospital was completed, npatient services were provided from the old hospital building which was never intended for this purpose and which had largely fallen into disrepair.
Joanna Reid, Merlin’s Project Coordinator, said: “This wonderful occasion is a tribute to the hard work of many, many people and to the steadfast support of the Ministry of Health and DFID. Merlin describes itself as a ‘force for health’ which is why days like today are so special – the opening of this hospital marks a great step forward for the health of people in Obokote and beyond.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Merlin (www.merlin.org.uk) is an international health charity, saving lives in the world’s toughest places. We respond with healthcare when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery – building resilience so that those at risk of future health disasters are better prepared. Merlin is a force for health
Merlin has been in DRC since 1997 and provides vital medical services to over one million people in Maniema province. In Obokote health zone we support 12 health facilities – including supplying medicine and equipment and training health workers. The Obokote Hospital project was run by Merlin after being conceived in partnership with the Ministry of Health and local community, and took 13 months to complete.
For further information and assistance please contact:
- Louise Halfpenny, Media Manager
T +44 (0) 207 014 1703, M +44 (0) 755 728 0026 E louise.halfpenny@merlin.org.uk
- Anna MacSwan, Media Officer
T +44 (0) 207 014 1735, M +44 (0) 709 238 2421 E anna.macswan@merlin.org.uk
