Eastern Cape

Summary Bulletin 9 - DHS-LG Discussion List

STAFFING NORMS FOR PHC

This discussion formed part of the previous discussion on minor ailments and real or perceived work overload (see Summary 8).

It is important to remember

Traditional leaders set to curb initiation deaths

Traditional leaders look set to take steps that could help curb deaths in initiation schools. In the latest incident 14 under age boys have been admitted to hospital in the Mount Frere area of the Eastern Cape following botched circumcision procedures.

ARV rollout set to begin in Eastern Cape

The rollout of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment is set to begin early next month in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. According to Sizwe Kupelo, media liaison officer for the Eastern Cape department of health, seven hospitals across the province will be able to administer ARV treatment by the second week in May.

Eastern Cape - Health Care Crisis

Huge staff shortages and weak primary care are the two most pressing problems in the Eastern Cape health system, but there are signs of improvement in provincial management. According to Treasury figures for February 2003, the province has the greatest shortages of nurses and doctors. There is one doctor per 8 825 people (national average is 3 928) and one professional nurse per 1 278 people. (average 916).

WHO Guidelines for Management of Severe Malnutrition in Rural South African Hospitals: effect on case fatality and the influence of operational factors

WHO case-management guidelines for severe malnutrition aim to improve the quality of hospital care and reduce mortality. We aimed to assess whether these guidelines are feasable and effective in under-resourced hospitals. All children admitted with a diagnosis of severe malnutrition to two rural hospital in Eastern Cape Province from April. 2000 to April, 2001, were studied and their case-fatality rates were compared to with the rates in a period before guidelines were implemented (March 1997 to February 1998). Quality of care was assessed by observation of medical and nursing practices, review of medical records, and interviews with carers and staff. A mortality audit was used to identify cause of death and avoidable contributory factors.