Digodigo Dispensary

Introduction

Services

Staff

Staff numbers

Patients

Key Statistics

Drugs and Medical Supplies

see the news page for the latest reports from Digodigo Dispensary (included in the Wasso reports)

Introduction

Digodigo Dispensary (10 beds) is a health unit under the direct supervision of Wasso Hospital . It is located in the Sale division at Digodigo in the more densely populated Sonjo valley, 56 km by road from Wasso. The Batemi (about 10,000 people) are the inhabitants of the valley.

They depend mainly on subsistence farming with traditional irrigation systems and to a lesser extend on life stock. The valley is surrounded by land of the majority tribe, the pastoralist Maasai. The valley is far lower situated than Wasso resulting in higher temperatures. The warmer climate, irrigation systems near human habitations and densely populated villages are the reason for the high prevalence of malaria in the catchment area.

Malaria remains the leading diagnosis. 3058 (3649) outpatients out of total attendances of 4957 (6000), and 120 (140) inpatients out of a total admission of 213 (233) patients were treated for malaria from July to December 2004.
(In brackets are figures of the previous six months)

Services

Outpatient and inpatient services with maternity and laboratory.

Primary health care programme with outreach and school health services.

Sonjo dispensary is a very busy dispensary. It provides good quality health services with a limited number of health workers.

Staff

In charge is an experienced clinical officer. Due to an increasing numbers of women coming for delivery to the dispensary an experienced nurse midwife was posted to the dispensary in order to improve the quality of maternal care. The nurse midwife is also matron and deputy in charge of the health unit.

The leader of the primary health care team is a locally grown up Mutemi. He was locally trained for his work in Wasso ans has grown up with traditions and customs of his people.

Generally the staff members are good motivated and come for exchange periods to Wasso Hospital. The aim is to increase in this way their knowledge and skill.

Staff List

Patients

Out Patient Department: The attendance figures are depending on the seasons. During and short after the rains a high incidence of malaria leads to a high workload in the outpatient department in comparison with the dry season. Malaria is in all seasons the leading course for attendance, on place two are acute respiratory infection and pneumonia.

In Patient Department: Also the admission figures are considerably affected by the far higher incidence of malaria during the rainy season. Malaria is throughout the leading cause for admission, pneumonia ranking on place two. The number of deliveries has increased since the year 2001 after a qualified midwife conducts the deliveries.

Key Statistics

Notes:

• In Patient Capacity is 12 beds

• Referrals to Wasso Hospital are mostly complicated obstetric or surgical cases.

• Jul - Dec 2004: In Patient Department:
  213 patients were admitted, amongst them 120 with severe malaria, and 57 with pneumonia.
  
• Jan- Jun 2004: In Patient Department:
  233 patients were admitted, amongst them 140 with severe malaria, and 60 with pneumonia.
  
• Jul-Dec 2003: In Patient Department:
  144 patients were admitted, amongst them 128 with severe malaria, and 50 with pneumonia.

Drugs and Medical Supplies

Drugs and other supplies are supplied by Wasso Hospital to Digodigo timely and in sufficient quantities. The supplies are dispatched from Wasso Hospital on a regular monthly basis after receiving the monthly general and drug reports from the in-charge of the dispensary.