AusHeal Blog

Simple logistics

Fancy having surgery cancelled due to a lack of available linen.

HEAL Africa Hospital had a lack of theatre sponges used in surgery. Normally used as disposable items HEAL Africa’s theatres have been forced to repeatedly wash, dry and resterilize used sponges to maintain supply. During the September team stay a surgery session was cancelled due to the lack of sponges. Rain the previous day had stopped the washed sponges from drying such that none were available to be sterilized for the following day’s surgery.

AusHEAL was able to purchase a Singer sewing machine in-country and make arrangements for the importation of rolls of radiologic marker gauze that could be folded, cut and sewn to produce disposable theatre sponges at low cost. A process copied from Kijabe Hospital in Kenya.

 

 

Posted by AusHEAL on October 21, 2013