U N I G E R I A C I Nsukka District Hospital laboratory ... · art equipment including a Mindray BC 2800 for hematology, a Cobas C111 for biochemistry analysis, a CyFlow SL3 for CD4

N I G E R I AURC HACCI

Nsukka District Hospital laboratory gets face-lift, improves patient care and boosts health worker morale

Nsukka District Hospital in Enugu, Nigeria was established to cater for the health care needs of the

district’s over 650,000 people. But at first, laboratory equipment and services in the hospital were limited to the most basic and only about 20 patients were served every working day. When Mrs. Eze Ebere, a laboratory scientist on the National Youth Service, reported to this health facility in October 2009, she was greatly disturbed by what she saw.

In May 2010, the CDC-funded HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Care Initiative (HACCI), implemented by University Research Co., LLC (URC), renovated and equipped the hospital’s laboratory with modern equipment to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS. The program also trained laboratory officers in how to use and maintain the newly installed equipment. The laboratory now provides high quality laboratory services to over 80 patients per day using state of the art equipment including a Mindray BC 2800 for hematology, a Cobas C111 for biochemistry analysis, a CyFlow SL3 for CD4 count, and an Olympus microscope for the tuberculosis laboratory.

The Enugu State Ministry of Health has committed to increasing the numbers of HIV/AIDS health professionals at Nsukka District Hospital as a result of URC support, trainings and infrastructure upgrades to the hospital laboratory. The number of patients served could double with planned staff increases.

Health care workers get job satisfaction and are proud of their laboratory

Health care workers in the hospital report that they are happier and more fulfilled in their service to

the people.

“I have been in Nsukka District

Hospital since October 1992.

Before the coming of URC, our

laboratory was a room without

benches and equipment and

was always covered with dust,

but now we have standard

benches with sliding glass

cabinets and a CD4 counter,

Cobas biochemistry analyzer

and a hematology auto analyzer.

Our patients are now happy

and satisfied.”Mr. EManuEl Sunday ngwu

thE nSukka laboratory In-chargE

The laboratory now provides good quality services to not only HIV/AIDS patients but those suffering from other diseases as well.

C e n t e r s f o r D i s e a s eC o n t r o l a n d P r e v e n t i o n

TM

Nsukka District laboratory before renovation

Nsukka District laboratory after renovation

Cyflow counter being used during a training session

October 2010

H I V / A I D S C o m p r e H e N S I V e C A r e I N I t I At I V e

Laboratory scientist with the National Youth Service volunteers to work for free

Mrs. Eze Ebere, the laboratory scientist with the National Youth Service had thought at

the beginning of her service year that she would not gain anything from the experience, due to the poor conditions at the laboratory. However, after completing her service this year, she resolved to come back as a volunteer to serve her people and learn more using the “newly installed sophisticated equipment of modern technology.”

By improving infrastructure and building a new cadre of Laboratory

Officers in Enugu state and beyond, University Research Co., LLC

together with its partners Crown Agents USA and Vision Africa,

hopes to significantly improve the quality of medical care for the

650,000 clients of Nsukka District hospital, and for the larger

population of Enugu state.

Dr. David Ugwu, the Chief medical Director, Nsukka District Hospital

Staff and patients now have more confidence in the laboratory services.

Newly installed Cobas C111 being used for bochemistry analysis

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With its non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 30 countries including the

For additional information, visit www.urc-chs.com or contact:

Beth Turesson at [email protected].

By improving infrastructure and building a new cadre of Laboratory Officers in Enugu state and beyond, University Research Co., LLC together with its partners Crown Agents USA and Vision Africa, hopes to significantly improve the quality of medical care for the 650,000

clients of Nsukka District hospital, and for the larger population of Enugu state. The project hopes that these efforts toward strengthening the Enugu health system will serve as an example for other states in Nigeria.