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• 2020
• • 6 Août
  • Par LAO/027 Project
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/027
  • Santé
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  LAOS - Official Visits at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  The Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, located in Paksan and funded by the Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, was officially established and handed over in July 2018 in presence of Associate Professor Dr. Bounkong Syhavong, Minister of Health, as well as other senior officials from Bolikhamxay province, representatives from the Luxembourg Embassy in Lao PDR and representatives from the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, LuxDev.

  Since 2018, the Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme (LAO/027) has been renovating various departments of the hospital. A great part of the renovation work was finalized in 2020, with the hospital opening its new laundry department, new ophthalmology operating theatre, new administration office for hospital staff, and General Medicine ward, to give some examples.  

  A. Ministerial visit at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  The Minister of Health, Associate Professor Dr. Bounkong Syhavong, visited the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital on the 8th of July 2020. His visit mainly focused on COVID-19 as well as on the dengue fever response of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital. Indeed, besides the public health measures for COVID-19 preparedness and response, the Ministry of Health has to respond to a rising number of dengue fever infections in various parts of the country. 

  
  The Minister of Health and Bolikhamxay provincial hospital team, July 8, 2020

  
  The Minister of Health at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 8, 2020

  During his visit at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, the Minister of Health highlighted the importance of laboratory preparedness, quality and safety of laboratory testing, and upgrading of competencies of laboratory staff. Moreover, his discussions also revolved around infection prevention and control (IPC) and the 5W1S strategy (“Five Well, One Satisfactory” - the Lao PDR’s national strategy to improve the quality of health care services).

  
  Minister of Health visiting the new administration building of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital

  
  The Minister of Health accompanied by Dr. Boungnan Phommachanh, Director of Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, and other hospital staff, July 2020

  The Minister of Health planted a tree as a souvenir in the compounds of the hospital.

  
  Minister of Health offered a tree to the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 2020

  B. Sharing knowledge and learning from good hospital management practices

  On the 6th of July 2020, a meeting was held between Dr. Boungnan Phommachanh, Director of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, Dr. Ouymixai Sybounheang, Director of Houaphan provincial hospital, and other health professionals from the Houaphan provincial hospital.

  The meeting revolved around the 5W1S strategy as well as around sharing and scaling up good practices in hospital management, patient safety and hospital quality improvement.

  
  Houaphan provincial hospital team visiting the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 6, 2020

  It is important to highlight that the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital serves as the referral centre for 7 district hospitals and 41 health centres. The hospital also serves as a “model” for other provincial hospitals. Indeed, the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital has been designated to perform as a teaching and training centre for the comprehensive and expanded programme of human resource capital development supported by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation.

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• • 6 Août
  • Par LAO/027 Project
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/027
  • Santé
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  LAOS - New ophthalmology unit and laundry department at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital

  A. Improving access to eye care services in Laos

  The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme (LAO/027) has been working in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation in Lao PDR since 2018 to develop ophthalmology capacity in the three provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane.

  As part of its overall objective of reinforcing the scope and the quality of curative ophthalmological services in the three Luxembourg-supported provinces, project LAO/027 has renovated the old ophthalmology unit of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital. After 14 months of renovation works, the new Ophthalmology Surgical Department opened its doors in July 2020. The renovation costs, including the medical gas system for the anaesthesia unit, amounted to EUR 135 000.

  
  New Ophthalmology Unit, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  The new Ophthalmology Surgical Department of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital delivers eye health services for the whole province, composed of 7 district hospitals and 41 health centres.

  The establishment of an Ophthalmology Surgical Department is an important achievement for Bolikhamxay province and its population of 325 000 people. Today, the hospital provides care and treatment services, including services for eye-related diseases and conditions, from general problems to treatments that require the expertise of specialists.

  Since the opening of the new ophthalmology unit, there has been 12 cataract surgeries and three 3 other eye related operations.

  
  Cataract surgery, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  More specifically, the ophthalmology unit offers the following services: comprehensive vision testing, eye examination services, cataract surgeries, treatment of disorders of the lacrimal system or of the orbits among others.

  Cataract surgery

  The leading cause of blindness in Laos are cataracts (clouding of the normally clear lens) and this represents an immense public health and socioeconomic problem. Indeed, a loss of vision has not only a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, but it also engenders economic loss, leads to unemployment, and causes an increase in welfare costs.

  Cataracts are commonly associated with ageing, however, not all patients suffering from a cataract are old. In fact, the average age of cataract surgery patients at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital is 50 (as of July 2020).

  
  Cataract surgery, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  It is important to highlight that even though cataracts are one of main causes of blindness and visual impairment in many developing countries, cataracts can be operated before a loss in vision leads to blindness and it consists of a short operation of approximately 20 minutes. However, the major barriers for more surgeries are:

  • lack of awareness of eye health care services;
  • lack of accessible and affordable surgeries;
  • general fear of cataract operations among communities;
  • uneven distribution of eye health facilities; and
  • limited number of qualified eye health personnel.

  Taking the above-mentioned into consideration, it is not only important to implement the appropriate structures to deliver eye care, but it is also important to provide accessible, quality and affordable eye surgeries, to raise awareness on eye health in remote areas of the country, and to increase the number of trained health personnel.

  Infrastructure and eye care equipment

  Besides the renovation of the building, the LAO/027 project has also provided a new ophthalmology operating theatre with equipment worth a total amount of EUR 90 000 (i.e. slit lamp, ophthalmic microscope, A/B-Scan and anaesthesia workstation).

  
  New ophthalmology operating theatre, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  Human resources for eye health care and capacity development 

  The new ophthalmology unit of the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital currently employs one ophthalmologist and two ophthalmology nurses (both nurses followed a special eye care training for four months at the National Eye Care hospital in Vientiane Capital).

  Besides the provision of infrastructure and equipment, project LAO/027 also supports capacity development through various short and long-term scholarships. The LAO/027 project offers scholarships for the following programs/ training courses:

  • short-term training for nurses and medical doctors (courses in ophthalmologic nursing; courses on visual impairment and blindness); and
  • long-term scholarships for medical doctors (one year for basic eye doctors; three years for Ophthalmologist Specialist Residency).

  Currently, one eye doctor from the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital is following an OSR course (Ophthalmology Specialization Residency). He has finished his first year at Thammasat University in Thailand and is currently continuing his final academic year at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane and at the National Ophthalmology Centre. He is expecting to complete his training in September 2021.  

  Outreach activities

  The key to preventing avoidable blindness and visual impairment is improving the delivery of surgical eye care services in the Lao PDR as well as enabling more people to access quality and affordable eye care.

  However, a great part of the population, particularly in remote and the poorest areas of the country, are not aware of eye health and eye diseases. Thus, informing communities about eye care, avoidable blindness as well as raising awareness on the availability of services, is crucial.

  In this regard, project LAO/027 supports outreach activities in the three central provinces of Vientiane, Khammouane and Bolikhamxay. Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, there were no outreach activities between January and June 2020. However, in previous years, the provincial ophthalmologist went on field visits to provide clinical supervision support at the district level and to find cases in remote areas of the country that required a cataract surgery.

  B. Safety, cleanliness and the opening of the new laundry department

  Besides the new Ophthalmology Surgery Department, the LAO/027 project has also renovated various other departments of the hospital, including the laundry building. The new laundry department is operational since the 6th of July 2020.

  
  
  New laundry building at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital; Soaking sink and drying racks, July 2020, © LuxDev

  Ensuring good hygiene is a priority in a hospital. Therefore, renovating the building and installing modern laundry equipment is important in order to save power and water but also to avoid that any infection is passed through the hospital clothing or linens.

  The laundry building ensures the supply of clean clothes and linens for the operating theatres (OTs), the delivery rooms, the emergency unit, the five (5) patient wards as well as for several outpatient department (OPD) consultation rooms (around 25 units).

  On average, 110 kg of dirty clothes and linens are washed per day. The laundry department manages the: changing of linens; picking up of dirty clothes; disinfection, cleaning, drying, ironing and distribution of the clothes and linens to the corresponding department of the hospital; sewing of bed and instrument wrapping sheets; and repairing of teared linens.  

  
  
  
  Laundry team responsible for keeping the hospital clothing and linens clean, Laundry building at the Bolikhamxay provincial hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  
  Distribution of clean clothes and linens, Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital, July 2020, © LuxDev

  The new laundry department has been equipped with laundry equipment including washer extractors, dryers, irons, and sewing tables.

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 13 Juillet
  • Par Undraa BAYANAA
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/027
  • Santé
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  LAOS - COVID-19 Nasal pharyngeal sample taking training

  Luxembourg Cooperation through its Lao-Luxembourg Health support program (LAO/027) is continually supporting the Lao PDR in its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

  Infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital in minimizing the harm caused by the spread of infection. In this regard, the LAO/027 project, in close cooperation with the National Centre of Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), has been providing guidance and training to enhance cleaning practices in health facilities, as well as COVID-19 nasopharyngeal specimen collection trainings for frontline health workers. 

  Aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, the trainings and guidance have been delivered to 68 health workers from the three central provinces of Vientiane (VTE), Bolikhamxay (BLX) and Khammouane (KMN), for a total amount of LAK 51,044,000 (5,050 EUR).

  COVID-19 sample taking training, Vientiane Province (June 16, 2020)

  The main objective of the training courses was to better prepare the provincial and district hospital staff in taking samples to identify individuals carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

  Upon completion of the training, the hospital staff (mainly laboratory technicians and frontline nurses) should be able to safely collect nasopharyngeal swab specimens from individuals with suggestive symptoms, known to have been exposed or to have the coronavirus, for testing purposes. Furthermore, the participants have learned to safely package and transport the samples to a reference laboratory following international safety procedures and guidelines.

  

  Use of PPE, practical training, Bolikhamxay Province (June, 2020)

  More specifically, the training consisted of half a day theory, focusing on:

  • self-protection during patient contact (the proper use of N95 masks, the use, donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the safety principles of laboratory biohazard);
  • the proper technique for collecting COVID-19 specimens by using the nasal pharyngeal swab technique;
  • the proper transfer of the sample collection to the central laboratory;
  • disinfection methods; and
  • clinical waste management.

  The training also consisted of half a day of practical training, focusing on:

  • practical exercises and real sample taking using the nasopharyngeal swab technique;
  • the use of PPE by strictly following the safety steps and guidelines.

  COVID-19 Sample Taking Training, Vientiane Province (June 16, 2020)

  During the practical session, the participants had the opportunity to practice the nasopharyngeal swab technique, sample packing and sample transportation to the NCLE. Moreover, the health staff were trained on the use of PPE, cleaning and the disinfection of premises.

  The training sessions were held:

  • In VTE Province: 20 participants (the training was divided into 2 batches of 10 people consisting of 6 staff from the Provincial Hospital, 14 staff from 11 district hospitals); training organised on 15-16 June (batch 1) and 17-18 June (batch 2) at the Vientiane Provincial Hospital.
  • In BLX Province:  15 participants (12 lab staff from six district hospitals, 2 lab staff from BLX Provincial Hospital and 1 lab staff from the Provincial Health Department); training organised on 24-25 June 2020.
  • In KMN Province:  33 participants (the training was divided into 3 batches consisting of 3 lab technicians from KMN provincial hospital, 10 lab technicians from 10 districts, 2 lab technicians from the military hospital, 18 lab technicians from KMN community hospitals); training organised on 1st of July (batch 1 with NCLE), on 7-8 July (batch 2) and 9-10 July (batch 3). 

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• • 26 Juin
  • Par Caroline de BOISSET
  • 
  • Bureau Sénégal SEN/031
  • Santé
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  SÉNÉGAL - Des respirateurs mobiles pour le SAMU

  Le SAMU a réceptionné dix respirateurs artificiels pour faire face à la crise du Covid-19. Cette commande a été réalisée dans le cadre de la Coopération Sénégal - Luxembourg. Le matériel sera utilisé dans les différents épicentres de l’épidémie.

  Dix respirateurs artificiels mobiles ont été remis le jeudi 18 juin 2020 au SAMU. Les bénéficiaires directs du matériel sont les services d’urgence des régions de Saint-Louis, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack et Matam.

  « C’est la fin d’un long périple pour ce matériel commandé par la Coopération Sénégal - Luxembourg pour lutter contre la pandémie du COVID-19. Cette dotation survient à un moment crucial pour apporter au dispositif sanitaire du pays un complément essentiel pour assurer la prise en charge des cas graves » nous explique Son Excellence Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Ambassadeur du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg à Dakar.

  
  Réception et remise des respirateurs à l’hôpital et au CRRA de Saint Louis

   

  Avec cette livraison, le nombre de respirateurs disponibles au Sénégal va augmenter de plus de 10 %, participant ainsi à l’amélioration de la prise en charge des urgences médicales et à la mise à niveau des plateaux techniques des services des urgences, problématiques depuis toujours au cœur de l’engagement de la Coopération Sénégal-
  Luxembourg.

  « Ces respirateurs mobiles vont améliorer de façon substantielle les conditions de prise en charge des cas graves liés au COVID-19 dans ce contexte de crise sanitaire mondiale », a déclaré Abdoulaye DIOUF SARR, le Ministre de la Santé et de l’Action sociale. Il a par ailleurs informé l’opinion de la mise à disposition, par le Luxembourg, d’un montant de 1,7 milliard de FCFA pour la riposte COVID.

  
  Réception et remise des respirateurs à l’hôpital et au CRRA de Saint Louis

  LA COOPÉRATION SÉNÉGAL – LUXEMBOURG PAR TEMPS DE CRISE

  Depuis 1987, le Luxembourg et le Ministère de la Santé et de l’Action sociale travaillent ensemble pour renforcer le système de santé et la prise en charge des urgences médico-chirurgicales au Sénégal. Les appuis de la Coopération continuent de se manifester en cette période de crise par des appuis techniques et financiers notamment au SAMU de Dakar mais également aux communes (34 sur la zone d’intervention) pour la fabrication et la distribution de matériel : masques, gel hydroalcoolique, lave-main etc.

  
  Réception et remise des respirateurs à l’hôpital et au CRRA de Saint Louis

   

  ↑ Haut de la page
• • 26 Juin
  • Par Artan Sadiku
  • 
  • Bureau Kosovo KSV/017
  • Santé
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  KOSOVO - Balancing between medical wellbeing and social welfare

  After more than three months since the first registered case of COVID-19 in Kosovo, the whole health sector remains focused on dealing with the pandemic. The efforts to deal with the pandemic have become the top priority of the Ministry of Health and other relevant health institutions engagement in the Kosovo health sector. Kosovo, like all other countries has had to fight on two fronts: the public health side and the economic and social disruptions. Elaborating a Manual for the citizen on how to behave during the pandemic was thought to be useful in mitigating the consequences.

  Kosovo has moved from a large scale lockdown of its economy and a quarantine method in many parts of the country, to a scaled opening up of its economy and public life. Accordingly, the MoH has calibrated the Manual for the prevention and combating COVID-19, in order for the opening up not to escalate into an overwhelming number of new infections.

  

  Through this Manual, the MoH has described very specific measures to be used in sectors and buildings like: healthcare provision, public events, education, sports, shopping malls and other public locations. It also has specified under which conditions specific activities are allowed. The Manual is published online and on paper in three languages: Albanian, Serbian, and English, to make it accessible to everybody.

  The Manual was supported by the Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo (Phase II), KSV/017, in order to help the MoH in fulfilling its duties related to the pandemic, and in playing its role as the steward of health sector in Kosovo. During this period, the project team worked tirelessly to support the MOH and healthcare institutions, in facing this worldwide challenge. 

  KSV/017 is funded by the Luxembourg development cooperation and implemented by LuxDev.

   

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• • 22 Avril
  • Par Undraa BAYANAA
  • 
  • LAO/027
  • Santé
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  LAOS – Luxembourg Cooperation supports Lao PDR’s efforts to tackle COVID-19Solidarity does not stop at our borders!

  Luxembourg Cooperation, through its Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme - Phase II (LAO/027) implemented by LuxDev, is supporting the Government of Lao PDR in its response to COVID-19 pandemic.

  The Government of Lao PDR together with its international counterparts have reacted rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic and have launched a national COVID-19 procurement list to facilitate the coordination of support and to deliver a strong and coordinated response at national and subnational levels.

  LAO/027 is providing supplies and technical support in areas where gaps in capacity and resources have been identified. More specifically, LAO/027 Provincial Health Planning Management Advisors (HPMA) and Nurse-Midwife Trainers Advisors (NMTA) are closely supporting the COVID-19 preparedness in the three Provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane that Luxembourg supports.

  
  New In Patient Department at Bolikhamxay hospital

  To ensure the efficiency and efficacy of its contribution, LAO/027 is:

  • coordinating its support with national counterparts and other international development partners in Lao PDR;
  • following the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines as well as international literature on COVID-19 emergency preparedness. 

  
  Sample taking

  The LuxDev team is communicating on a daily basis with the National and Provincial Health Departments (PHDs), District Health Offices (DHOs) as well as with Provincial and District Hospitals to address the identified gaps and needs. 

  At the provincial level, LAO/027 is:

  • providing support in the establishment of temporary provincial isolation and treatment centers to protect patients from infections and to separate COVID-19 patients from other ongoing essential non-COVID care (e.g. deliveries, surgeries, MNCH);
  • working with PHDs and DHOs on regulating patient flows in the designated facilities (adequate first line clinical management, separate registration of suspected patients, sample taking and transportation to laboratories, hospitalization of confirmed patients, referral systems for critically ill patients); 
  • promoting the elaboration and dissemination of management and clinical procedures; 
  • supporting facility mapping and the Health Information System (HIS) 

  
  Training school

  Moreover, LAO/027 is providing urgent logistics support. The Program is assisting the provincial authorities in operationalizing their provincial response by purchasing specialized medical devices and other supplies (i.e. acquisition of personal protective equipment, beds, fans, refrigerators, oxygen, disinfectant hydrogels, alcohol, pulse oximeters, among others). 

  
  Emergency equipment and medical supplies

  So far equipment worth 107.000 EUR has been purchased and dispatched to the Provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane. 

  The procurement needs and gaps will be continuously updated by the PHDs/ DHOs and will be shared in the coming weeks. 

  In these unprecedented times, besides the LAO/027 support, Luxembourg will continue to provide every support to its partner countries including Lao PDR. The proposed Luxembourg intervention engages at the national and provincial levels. The current budget proposal of Luxembourg for COVID-19 Health Response is 2 million EUR. 

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• • 14 Février
  • Par Artan Sadiku
  • 
  • Bureau Kosovo KSV/017
  • Santé
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  KOSOVO - The ball of change keeps rolling

  The Gjilan General Hospital (GGH), being one of the six public general hospitals of Kosovo, somehow sidelined by the healthcare system throughout the years, was one of the two General Hospitals (GHs) chosen for receiving support from the Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo (Phase II), KSV/017 project. The beginning had its challenges, as there was resistance to change and new initiatives. It has been a while since working in a different manner and in a different setting was possible. But frequent workshops, trainings and introduction of new tools, as well as the purchase of the new equipment, seem to have accelerated development. Now support is coming in many spheres of their work, including: renovation, equipment and professional training.

  After having renovated the new space for the CT scanner, the latter was installed, fostering the enthusiasm of healthcare workers in Gjilan. The CT scanner boasts 128 slices, the existing one being an outdated two-slice scanner. It’s the CT in the public sector with the highest performance. Beside the scanner, the Project provided the hospital with a whole set of new equipment.

  Through the partnership agreement with the Murska Sobota hospital from Slovenia, two nurses provided a one-week training in Gjilan for the Surgery Department nurses, with practical and very useful lessons, including on-the-job training. The nurses from Prizren Regional Hospital also participated, creating a space for proper professional exchange with local, as well as international experience.

  Through the GGH efforts to implement its five-year strategic plan, developed with the support of the KSV/017 project, the hospital has managed to involve other stakeholders. The Kosovo Hospital and University Clinical Service (KHUCS) has invested in the hospital, with a complete renovation of the Emergency Service, including new equipment, which has completely revamped this hospital service. Moreover, the outpatient clinics have also been completely renovated and reorganised, giving a completely new feel to this very important part of healthcare service provision in GGH.

  The year ended with an end-of-year presentation followed by a reception at the hospital, with the management of the hospital presenting the results, and promoting the change initiated. The spark of change could be felt, as the conversations during the reception reflected another vibe for the years to come. The health professionals reflected on a successful year, with change accelerating, touching upon different key aspects of the hospital’s duties.

  

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• • 16 Janvier
  • Par Sommay Sibounheuang
  • 
  • Bureau régional de Vientiane LAO/027
  • Santé
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  LAOS - 22 ophthalmic nurses are ready for delivering eye care services in hospitals and in remote parts of the countryLuxembourg and The Fred Hollows Foundation support capacity building for hospitals and rural eye care in Lao PDR

  On 25 December 2019, twenty-two specialised ophthalmology nurses completed their training course at a graduation ceremony held at the National Eye Centre (NOC) hospital in Vientiane Capital.

  Assoc. Prof Dr. Boauthep PHOUMMINDR (Deputy Director of Health Care Department at the Ministry of Health) and  Dr. Siphetthavong SISALEUMSAK (Deputy Director of National of ophthalmology Center), presided the ceremony, joined by representatives from the Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme LAO/027, which provided six-month scholarships to six of the graduates, under a collaboration agreement with The Fred Hollows Foundation in Lao PDR.

  Scholarship recipients with Ms Sommay Sibounheuang, LAO/027 Scholarship Officer. ©LuxDev

  The Fred Hollows Foundation (https://www.hollows.org) is an independent, not-for-profit international development organisation working towards the elimination of avoidable blindness. Founded in Australia in 1992, The Foundation helps to create sustainable eye care systems in more than 25 countries, including Lao PDR.

  The Fred Hollows Foundation has a long-standing collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Ophthalmology Center, acquiring expertise in identifying national and provincial needs for eye care development, curriculum development and student selection, technical standards and supervision of eye care service delivery.

  Eye examination in the provincial hospital in Bolikhamxay, newly renovated by LAO/027, ©LuxDev

  The LAO/027 Programme and the Fred Hollows Foundation entered into a synergic collaboration agreement (September 2018 – December 2020), to provide complementary support for the capacity development and training of ophthalmology staff in the provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane Province.

  This partnership aims to support the national health authorities in organising 18 six-month ophthalmology specialist nurse courses, eight one-year “Basic Eye Doctor Courses (BED)” for newly graduated medical doctors, and 10 three-year Ophthalmology Specialists Residencies in Lao PDR and Thailand.

  Along with the trainings, LAO/027 is also supporting the upgrade of eye care out-patient and surgery facilities in the provincial hospitals. The newly trained eye health staff will provide eye care through community outreach activities, such as cataract surgery.

  While infectious eye diseases such as trachoma were virtually eliminated in Lao PDR over the last decades, the country still struggles to provide adequate care for aging-related eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma. More prevalent in rural areas, these diseases cause poor vision and blindness, resulting in exclusion and a lower quality of life for the elderly. It is estimated that nationwide, only one third of serious cataract cases are being treated, and often still by sub-standard procedures.

  The ophthalmic nurses graduation session, © LuxDev

  The students graduated on Luxembourg Development Cooperation scholarships will be posted at provincial and district hospitals for delivering eye care services in hospitals and in remote parts of the country. They will also be educating communities about avoidable blindness, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and provincial health departments.

  ↑ Haut de la page
• 2019
• • 26 Décembre
  • Par Valid Apuk
  • 
  • Bureau Kosovo KSV/017
  • Santé
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  KOSOVO - Public hospitals network set to work with internationally recognized quality standards

  Kosovo hospitals continue having weak reputation due to their inability to deliver quality healthcare services to population. The reform initiated in 2011 aimed to improve the quality, adequacy and efficiency of healthcare services. The redesign of the organizational structure of healthcare institutions, including the establishment of the Kosovo Hospital and University Clinical Services (KHUCS) was one of the major pillars of the healthcare reform. KHUCS was designed as a unitary health institution composed of all secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions aiming to contribute to the integration and improvement of the quality of healthcare services.

  During 2018 and 2019, the project team led by the Chief Technical Adviser, key international and national experts, supported both General Hospitals (GH) of Prizren and Gjilan in initiating improvement of the healthcare quality activities, which are integral part of KHUCS. In GH Gjilan, the team worked with the staff of internal medicine department, while in GH in Prizren with the surgery department. Gjilan Hospital was supported to develop standards of operation and patient information sheets for stroke, heart insufficiency and COPD while Prizren Hospital produced standards of operations and patient information sheets for appendectomy, cholecystectomy and abdominal hernia repair.

  The standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by health care institutions to help its staff to carry out complex routine procedures, while Patient Information Sheet (PIS) provides sufficient information for the patients for their health problems. SOPs and PISs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with professional standards. SOPs help to bridge the gap between evidence-based medicine, clinical practice guidelines, and the local realities at the point-of-care. They are necessary to remind clinicians of the need for medical evaluations and to monitor medication compliance. The use of SOPs has the added advantages, such are:

  • Utilizing an optimized process for care;
  • Implementation of best evidence-based medicine;
  • Cost-effectiveness;
  • Improved continuing medical education;
  • Improved induction of new hospital staff;
  • Integrated quality control;
  • Transparency; and
  • Enhanced protection from malpractice.

  These achievements drawn interest by the leadership of KHUCS. Above mentioned quality standards gain application among all seven units of their public hospitals network. This may be first real step, toward longer term goal of international accreditation.

  

  On 4th of July 2019, the board of KHUCS with an official decree approved six Standards of Operation (SOP), Patient Information Sheets (PIS), and informed consent sheet for clinical conditions of Appendicitis, Cholecystectomy, Hernia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Stroke and Heart Attack. This means that all public hospitals of Kosovo that are part of KHUCS network will be aiming to perform these procedures at international level standards. This is major progress considering that the use of clinical guidelines and a protocols for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and managing selected conditions was not enforced by legislation, and their use was left to individual initiative of medical staff.

  This decision marks a peak of achievement for the General Hospital of Gjilan and Prizren, hospitals that have been supported through the “Health support Programme in Kosovo - KSV/017”.

  When all these SOPs will be in place, the quality of patient care in Kosovo public hospitals will substantially improve. Hence approval of the first set of SOPs by KHUCS and their extension of implementation in Kosovo hospitals is a major step forward in improving the quality of care. This first step provides momentum to further development and extension of these quality assurance measures in other departments and clinical units of public hospitals in Kosovo.

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• • 31 Juillet
  • Par Valid Apuk
  • 
  • KSV/017
  • Santé
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  Kosovo - Luxembourg Aid contributed to a success story for Doctors Chamber

  In the course of the reform process of the healthcare system in Kosovo, a number institutions were established, in order to establish a modern healthcare system. One of the main institutions established in 2011 was the Doctors’ Chamber (DC) of Kosovo, one of five Professional Medical Chambers, an independent organisation of doctors.

  From 2011 to 2013, the project “Health Support in Kosovo – KSV/014” (predecessor of the KSV/017 Project) provided extensive support to the elaboration of the Law on Professional Medical Chambers which was adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on 30 May 2013. The Assembly elections were organised immediately afterwards, in which the first mandate of Doctors Chamber of Kosovo was voted and the first president was elected. Project KSV/014 supported the organization of the first elections and provided technical assistance in establishing the main bodies of the newly established organisation.

  In December 2017 the second election was organized and a new Chamber president and Assembly members were elected. The election process was again supported by KSV/017.

  KSV/017 continued to provide technical assistance to the DC in order to facilitate the newly elected management to successfully carry out its core functions. The registration and membership of doctors (one of its core competencies) was successfully carried out. Today, the Chamber has a membership of more than 4000 registered doctors.

  Following the successful registration process, in February 2018, the Ministry of Health transferred the first public competencies to the Doctors’ Chamber and the Ethical Code supervision, which resulted in the full official functionalisation of the Chamber. Moreover, in April 2018 two additional competencies were transferred to the Chamber, namely licensing and re-licensing, as well as Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Hence, the DC issued 996 licenses for new specialists, doctors, and renewed licenses that had expired, fully implementing its role as foreseen in its statutes. The Chamber has become a fully functional and financially independent professional organization and since then has actively represented the interests of doctors for the benefit of both patients and doctors.

  On 10 November 2018, the General Assembly of the Standing Committee of European Doctors approved the membership of the Kosovo Doctors’ Chamber as an Observer Member. This achievement was very welcome by the medical community in Kosovo, this membership was highly regarded, as Kosovar doctors would have an opportunity to exchange concerns and experiences with the highest level of medical representation at the EU level.

  The priority of the Kosovo Doctors’ Chamber now is working on the process of transferring the last remaining responsibility, competency for Specialty Training, in close cooperation with Ministry of Health. KSV/017 supports the DC with continuous technical assistance and will provide a building for the Professional Medical Chambers in order to help improve their independence and financial sustainability.

  

  The Kosovo Doctors’ Chamber is dedicated to ensure an annual programme of Continuing Medical Education to its members and also making sure that necessary points for licensing are collected and offered by this medical organization.

   

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