The hospital is funded in partnership by the Mozambique Ministry of Health and the United Methodist Church. It serves a population of a half million people, many of whom travel a long distance for primary care. Health care remains affordable, regardless of patient background – a fee of 5 meticais (approximately $0.18) is the flat rate for care.
We are continually impressed and inspired by the staff of Chicuque Rural Hospital. Despite limited space, resources, and training, overwhelming numbers of patients, and frequent interruptionjs in electricity and internet, doctors and nurses perform their seemingly impossible duties with enormous dedication and patience. This tolerance and composure applies to patients as well, who arrive without appointments and wait in the reception and consultation areas. Even in the maternity ward, women await their turn to deliver without complaint. Family members await loved ones by passing time on hospital grounds. The conversations and meals shared between families afford an overall sense of community and support among hospital patrons.
Patients and families awaiting consult
Mothers and children passing time
outside of the pediatric ward
The major hospital wards include: general medicine, maternity, pediatrics, and surgery (pre- and post-op care). There are additional units for radiology, dentistry, ophthalmology, emergency medicine, laboratory diagnostics, surgery (and sterilization), and tuberculosis treatment.
Hospital ward
The large undertakings of sterilization and laundering specifically demonstrate the commitment and diligence with which the hospital staff compensates for insufficiencies in the management of equipment. The sterilization unit serves the entire hospital, relying on the work of rotating surgical unit staff. The laundering of linens, bedding, and hospital gowns is performed completely by hand by staff members.
Sterilization unit
The restoration of equipment such as autoclaves and washing machines, as well as the training of operators and technicians on the proper usage and maintenance of these machines, are much needed. Replacement parts and technical assistance are both costly and often available only in Maputo. Resultant delays in the preparation of tools and materials for usage can hinder overall hospital efficiency. However, the staff rises to meet this challenge as hygiene and sanitation are of utmost importance.
Washing machines requiring technical assistance
The hospital is also the site of teaching and training. Medical residents fulfill assignments prior to further specialization. Future lab technicians undergo instruction and examination in the laboratory. We have also learned that Mozambican health care workers acquire wide-ranging proficiency in their respective fields. Surgeons, for instance, have been trained to perform all customary procedures. Irrespective of the limited resources at their disposal, this level of competency allows doctors and nurses to uphold commendable standards and comprehensiveness of health care.
