Sterile drapes and instruments are essential to assure safe deliveries for mothers and babies. When these essential supplies are not available in a timely manner, mothers and babies may die. These preventable tragedies have occurred at the University of Gondar Hospital in Gondar Ethiopia because the demands of the hospital have overwhelmed the laundry and sterilization facilities.
In 2019, The Rotary Club of Del Mar, partnering with Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club and The University of Gondar create a Perinatal Laundry and Sterilization facility at the University of Gondar Hospital ( GG2094220 "Safe Deliveries for Mothers and Babies"). The grant purchased a washer, dryer, and autoclave and provided training in use, maintenance, and repair of the equipment.
During the grant, the heating elements on the autoclave failed several times. A root cause analysis determined that the underlying problem was overuse of the machine. The autoclave was doing 13-15 cycles in a 24-hour period, putting undue strain on the equipment.
There has been a tremendous increase in the number of deliveries at the University of Gondar Hospital over the past two years. The number of deliveries has increased 150% , to 15,000 deliveries per year because of displacement due to civil unrest and closing of the outlying health centers. The entire hospital has been inundated with casualties of war.
In exploring options for potential solutions to these problems we have contacted Medical Aid International, an NGO which specializes in procuring medical equipment for low resource areas. MAI assists with project development, procures suitable medical equipment, assists with transportation, and provides training and ongoing support. They also host an online biomedical engineering program to provide training for local biomedical engineers.
We propose a global grant to purchase two supplemental autoclaves to provide increased capacity to handle current and future demand. We will partner with Medical Aid International to procure and install equipment, train personnel to use and maintain equipment, and provide ongoing support once the project is completed. In addition, the grant will provide funding for three University of Gondar Biomedical engineers to complete the online biomedical training course.
It is our hope that in the future there will be sterile linens and instruments for every delivery at Gondar University Hospital, eliminating this as a cause for maternal and neonatal death and disability.
Approved
This project is "Approved". This means the application has been approved by The Rotary Foundation, and the project is ready for implementation.
Project listed for the 2023-24 Rotary Year.
The TRF Grant application number is #2454135.
Proposed Financing
Existing Contributions Towards This Project
Date
Cash
DDF
Total
Del Mar (5340)
13-Jul-23
$4,000
$4,000
$8,000
Del Mar (5340)
13-Jul-23
$5,000
$0
$5,000
Del Mar (5340)
13-Jul-23
$2,500
$0
$2,500
Del Mar (5340)
17-Jul-23
$5,000
$0
$5,000
Del Mar (5340)
29-Jul-23
$500
$0
$500
Fallbrook (5340)
21-Aug-23
$5,842
$5,842
$11,684
Del Mar (5340)
25-Aug-23
$16,443
$0
$16,443
The City of Wolverhampton (1210)
1-Nov-23
$300
$1,500
$1,800
District 5580 DDF
4-Dec-23
-
$5,000
$5,000
Leicester (1070)
14-Jan-24
$625
$625
$1,250
Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation
-
$13,573
$13,573
Total
$70,750
Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.
