A paediatric special care unit in a tropical hospital

Abstract

The Paediatric wing at U.T.H. admits all medical Paediatrics except neonates born at that hospital. It comprises 3 wards, 2 general and 1 infectious (Measles, Polio, TB). It is about 1/2 mile from the main modern hospital complex, being housed in the old private wing. Annual admissions for 197510,000 and in 197612,000. Before September,1975 any "Intensive Care" or special procedures had to be carried out on the main Wards. Lack of nurses and overcrowding meant this was rarely done properly and very few patients survived if they needed ventilation. Against this background it was decided to set up a "Special Care Unit" in a sideroom with its own complement of nurses. A special care Unit was recently opened in the Paediatric wing of the University Teaching Hospital Lusaka, and its first year of operation is discussed.