Zimba Mission Hospital...

Ashley worked at Zimba before she married and started the guest house where we stayed during our time in Zimba. She kindly called the hospital Friday morning and arranged for us to meet the hospital administrator. 

George, who works for Overflow Guesthouse, walked us through little paths to the hospital and then decided to take the tour with us. 

We talked to Mr. Stanford, who explained that while the hospital wasn't technically a level two, they functioned as one being the regional referral hospital.

He then called in one of the procurement officers, Willard, who agreed to take us on a tour. 

175 staff. Mostly provided by the government, other than upper level leadership. 

6 doctors and more than 16 nurses.

I can't think of anything we really missed other than we only saw the waiting room of radiology as those in charge were busy.

We were introduced many times to the different departments. 

Many of the departments contained teams of nursing students from other locations learning morning rounds. 

Obstetrics

The men's and women's wards [12-13 beds each] consist of one side being medical and the other surgery patients. 

Pediatrics:17 beds currently displaced while the ward is expanded.

 Obstetrics: about 134 deliveries a month, including under 15 c-section. 

In Zambia, close to the hospital, or even right next door like at Jembo, the mothers live for the month before their due date waiting for labor. 

Some of the equipment in the ward that we saw: IV pump, oxygen concentrator; suction and EKJ. ICU bed is the one closest to the charge nurse's desk. 

Nursing school library.

Out-patient clinic: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Seeing about 150 patients a day in 3 exam rooms. 

Laboratory: areas for cultures/bacteriology; electrolytes, blood typing, urine, stool analysis, HIV, TB and other disease testing. 

The staff even showed us the bed where the person on nights could rest if not needed-much better than being called in!

Pharmacy, radiology, dental, medical records, public health,  as expected...a few that surprised us included:  huge cooking vats where they prepare food for the patients. 2 meals a day[corn mush, beans, cabbage leaves]; 

Kitchen.

Large industrial washing machines (and dryers for the rainy season).

Exercise equipment for therapy.

Radiology like all the other locations boasted beautiful wall art work and verses of encouragement in both English and Tonga, painted, we later learned, in 2016 by Ashley's aunt!

Sorry, no pictures.

School of nursing in their second year. We were introduced to both the first and second year classes, gave greetings and bit of encouragement.

We saw the few books for them to use for studies and a few old Dell computers in the IT area. 

Laundry

Met two tutors who help the students as well. Land donated by the government in time will house new class rooms for the students.

The dream is for the diploma program to grow into a degree in nursing and then add midwifery. 

The new students should start clinics in the hospital in January.

The past 15 years the Eye Clinic has been a blessing to the area.

International's Vision Volunteers work with local staff to provide surgery and eye care.

Physiotherapy 

They also are expanding a local library housed in shipping containers directly behind the clinic. A guest house next door provides housing for visitors. 

The solar battery system was ready to be installed the week after our visit. They also dream in time to have the abilities and supplies for lens cutting.  

There is a 5 year plan-working on the University buildings, finish up Peds. 

Add additional degrees like laboratory, pharmacy, medicine. 

After our tour we returned to the administrative building for a final few words with Mr. Stanford.

Eye clinic. 

One of the biggest issues currently is that 2 of 3 bore holes [wells] on the property went dry in a recent drought and one is not adequate for the need. 

Also getting medications and supplies is very challenging. 

They serve a 100,000 area. Three separate districts and some patients come from other districts as well.

Eye Clinic Library

After hearing from Dr. Emmett about Zimba for so many years it was a privilege and blessing to see it in person.

Challenged to not only continue praying for medical ministries but to encourage others to remain firm, stay in the fight, pray for staff, patients, supplies, protection and provision for this important area of impact for God's Kingdom work!