Sangmelima Referral Hospital promises good maintenance culture

The managers of the Sangmelima Referral Hospital have assured that they will ensure utmost maintenance of the over FCFA 20 billion health care facility.

Considering the fact that every facility gradually deteriorates with time, it is thus necessary to carry out maintenance on infrastructure hence the management of health care facilities must be prepared to accommodate whatever the future holds.

This message seems to have fallen on responsive ears as the management of the Sangmelima Referral Hospital, SRH, in the Dja and Lobo Division of the South Region, as they have sworn not to fall into the poor maintenance syndrome that has plagued many state infrastructure.

The health structure that stands conspicuously in the heart of Bitom has impressive access roads, lawns, fence, foot paths, recreational facilities, complex mechanical and electric systems and equipment installations, that leaves passers-by, visitor and patients highly impressed.

Even staff of the hospital have acknowledged that the hospital building and equipment is not like any other hospital and thus deserves optimum care.

The Director of the Sangmelima Referral Hospital, Dr Joseph Alou’ou Ze affirmed that the poor maintenance syndrome of Cameroon has led to the fast depreciation of structures that costs government billions of FCFA.

Dr Alou Ze revealed that proposals have been made by the management committee for a special allocation of funds for maintenance.

The hospital building and equipment are still benefitting a period of grace with the test period for three years.

The cost of painting alone was estimated at over FCFA 20 million hence Dr Alou’ou believes that plans be made towards the refurbishment of the facility every two years.

The equipment is sophisticated with technology at its best, giving no room for work errors which can easily lead to breakdown. The hospital intends to purchase an IRM Imaging equipment that will complete scanning exercises.

The Director explained that their wish was to embrace new technology in endoscopic surgery, “We are also negotiating with the management committee on how possible we can buy high technology equipment for endoscopic surgical treatment.”

The hospital has recruited cleaners for daily cleanup but is seeking to subscribe with cleanup companies for better services. To justify the cleanliness of the hospital premises, Alex Fred Manga Ndgaba, Chief of Service in charge of Legal Affairs and Litigation revealed that the first clean up exercises are carried out before 7am and by midday, the cleaners make a second round and the third and last for the day takes place by 4pm with standby services scheduled. “Nurses cleanup all bedbound patients,” disclosed Alex Fred Manga Ndgaba.

The hospital has acquired special waste management equipment that transforms human anatomical waste, microbiology and biotechnology waste, sharp objects, medicines and cytotoxic drugs, solid waste and liquid waste to paste which is then sterilized to be carted to landfills.

The hospital is designing strategies for possible partnership with the country’s waste management company, HYSACAM for the efficient hospital waste disposal. The council has promised the hospital another machine of the waste disposal chain.