International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) Issue: #28
October 2011
In This Issue IMHO Launches Major Drive to Establish NICU at Jaffna Hospital Volunteer Opportunity in Ethiopia: December 10-22, 2011 KAMHA Receives 2 Awards for Mental Health Efforts Support for Somalia Famine Relief Highlights of 8th SemiAnnual Meeting in Baltimore Upcoming IMHO Events
Quick Links: Recent Reports Gondar University Hospital Surgical Textbook Appeal Rebuilding Haiti: Serving the Health and Education Needs in Petit-Goave Introduction to the Sanford Health World Clinics Program Pediatric Services in Jaffna and Need for a NICU Unit Rebuilding Livelihoods in Sri Lanka: An Appeal Profiles of War-Affected Families in Sri Lanka Education and Empowerment of Deaf Youth in Ethiopia 2011 Annual Souvenir Program Report on the Needs of Resettled Persons and Others in Sri Lanka
IMHO Launches Major Drive to Establish a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Each year the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka records about 10,000 deliveries, and in the recent past the number has increased tremendously due to free movement of people from Vanni and other areas. Out of these deliveries, about 20% of the babies need some medical attention after birth. These babies are currently admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. The main problems at the Special Care Baby Unit at present are all related to overcrowding and lack of space. During the year 2010 there were a total of 1,311 babies admitted to the baby unit and 55% of the babies were preterm. More than half of these preterm babies had surfactant deficient respiratory distress. The Jaffna Teaching Hospital does not have surfactant, nor are there facilities to ventilate babies in the baby unit. Considering the deaths during the neonatal period, 105 babies died in 2010 mainly due to lack of neonatal intensive care. The deaths were particularly high due to sepsis, especially when the total number of babies was high. This also reflects the lack of space and increased risk of cross infection. The babies who need ventilation are admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit. In the year 2010 there were about 30 babies admitted to the ICU from the Special Care Baby Unit, and 50% of the babies died due to lack of neonatal intensive care. With the advancement of medical sciences in much of the world, Northern Sri Lanka is lagging behind. There is a clear need to improve the neonatal services in Jaffna by establishing a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Lack of space, proper facilities, equipment,