APPLICATION FOR THE CREATION OF THE HIV/AIDS PREVENTION,
COUNSELLING, SCREENING AND TREATMENT CENTRE AT THE ST
MARY SOLEDAD CATHOLIC HEALTH CENTRE, ALAKUMA –
MANKON, BAMENDA
03 February 2008
by Sister Purificacion
Matron of St Mary Soledad Health Centre
Introduction
Our goal in the national health delivery system is to provide an integrated and a holistic health care
to the population according to the national health policy.
St Mary Soledad Health is a Catholic Health Centre authorised by the ministerial decision N°
1487/A/MSP/SG/DOSTS/SDSSP on the 19 of July 2004
.
In the District Health System, St Mary Soledad Health Centre is responsible for the Alakuma Health
Area with a population of 7012 inhabitants; but its catchment area is the national territory.
Description of St Mary Soledad Health Centre
The description of St Mary Soledad Health Centre is best presented by the following pictures.
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The bed capacity is 100 beds
Staff strength:
-
Medical doctors - 2
Nurses - 16
Midwifes - 8
Laboratory technicians - 3
Services offered by St Mary Health Centre:







General consultations
Antenatal Clinic(ANC),
Deliveries
Surgery
Laboratory
Infant Welfare Clinic (IWC) – vaccinations
Hospitalisations in Children ward, Male ward, Female ward, Gynaecological, Postnatal
ward, CS post operation ward, Two General wards, Private wards.
 Ultrasound
 Community activities as described by the Ministry of Public Health and implemented by the
Bamenda Health District
Laboratory tests carried out in the laboratory:
-
-
-
-
Hematology: WBC, Hct, Hemoglobin, Differential count, ESR, Red blood count (RBC),
Fasting blood sugar (FBS), Rapid blood sugar (RBS), Blood grouping, Rhesus D Negative
Confirmation, Sickle Cell Test, Cross matching, Platelet count, Bleeding time.
Urine analysis
Pregnancy test
Microbiology:
 Cultures: Vaginal/urethral smear, urine, stool, wound, fungal.
 Bacteriology: vaginal smear, urethral smear, sputum for AFB
Serology: TPHA/VDRL (for syphilis, Chlamydia, SA (HIV), Rheumatoid factor, H.Pylori
(Helicobacter), ASLO (anti streptolisin O), Hepatitis B (surface antigen), Hepatitis C
(HCV), Toxoplasmosis gondii (quantitative), TB (antibodies for Koch Bacilli)
Parasitology: malaria, skin snip (filariasis), stool analysis, blood microfilaria, skin scraping
for fungi (KOH)
Serum electrolytes: calcium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, sodium
Lipid profiles: acid phophatase, bilirubin, cholesterol, alkaline phosphotase, triglycerides,
HDL, LDL
Kidney function tests: blood uric acid, blood urea, creatinine
Fertility tests (quantitative): testosterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone, oestrogen
Liver function tests (quantitative): SGOT, SGPT
Thyroid function tests (quantitative): TSH, T3, FT3, T4
Tumour markers (quantitative) : PSA
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Health Activities 2005 – 2007
General consultations and deliveries
Activities
2005
2006
2007
General
consultations
new and old
7165
10052
12798
30015
Total Deliveries
465
730
962
2157
New ANC
149
360
398
907
TOTAL
HIV SCREENING 2005 – 2007
Services
ANC
Prevalence rate
%
Patients
Prevalence rate
%
2005
Total
2006
Positive
150
35
2007
Total
Positive
279
47
23.33
0
168
#DIV/0!
16.85
1307
290
22.19
Total
Positive
451
57
12.64
1541
250
16.22
The above description of St Mary Soledad Health Centre and presentation its health activities show
that St Mary Soledad Health Centre is one of the important health Care delivery centres in Bamenda
town.
There has been a constant plea from our clients to open an HIV/AIDS counselling, screening and
treatment centre at St Mary Soledad Health Centre.
It is in response to the request from our clients, and our desire to improve on the quality of health
care to our clients in the light of the HIV/AIDS pandemic that we are applying to The Honourable
Minister of Public Health for the creation of an HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre in our St
Mary Soledad Health Centre.
Activities to be carried out at the HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre:
-
Counselling
Screening – laboratory tests
Carry out the programme for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT)
Carry out CD4 count and other relevant laboratory tests
Administration antiretroviral to HIV/AIDS patients
Manage opportunistic infections
Carry out IEC and social mobilisation for the prevention of HIV
Carry out community based activities visa HIV/AIDS
Documentation of activities using computer programs
Carry out research
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Resources available
- Trained Counsellors on HIV
- Hall for consultation and counselling unit
- Wards for admission of patients
- Laboratory that is already carrying out the screening tests for HIV and the supplementary
tests required for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients
- Qualified laboratory technicians
- Medical doctors
- Nurses
Needs
- CD4 count machine
- A one day training of local team by the Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordination team the
objective to ensure conformity with national policy; functioning of the centre; data
collection and reporting tools.
- Antiretrovirals for HIV to be supplied through the health system
- Medicines for the treatment of opportunistic infections
- A computer for data recording and analysis for information
- A video TV set for health education on the spot
- Laboratory reagents
- Registers, documentation and reporting tools
Strategy
The centre will function within the national health system coordinated by the Provincial HIV/AIDS
Coordination team, implementing national policy on HI/AIDS, using judiciously the resources that
will be provided by the State for the management of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections.
While waiting for the acquisition of a CD4 count machine, the CD4 count of patients will be carried
out in the laboratory of the Provincial Hospital; a collaboration protocol will have to be established
with the Provincial Hospital, with the assistance of the Provincial Delegate of Public Health
(Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordination team).
Advocacy
Request will be made to our friends and partners for acquisition of CD4 count machine and other
relevant resources for the smooth functioning of our HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre.
Conclusion
From the above description of St Mary Soledad Health Centre, the content of its activities and its
resources with the functioning modalities of the HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre the St
Mary Soledad is fit to run an HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre.
The creation of the HIV/AIDS screening and treatment centre at the St Mary Soledad will enhance
the multisectoral expanding and decentralizing of the provision of antiretroviral therapy centres,
thus improving accessibility to HIV/AIDS health care facilities.
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