Nyangana Hospital - Medical equipments and training for the staff

Medical infrastructures in rural areas are few and far from the villages; the hospitals are also often understaffed with few full trained doctors and poor medical equipments through the good office of Marcello Bandettini, representative of the Order of Malta in Namibia and member of the Rotary club of Pisa, from March to April 2008 Dr. Sr. Lyla has received advanced training in Surgery, Radiology and Ecography at Pisa University Medical Department, she has now retuned at the Hospital where she is the Principal Medical Officer. The Nyangana Catholic Hospital is a District Hospital, which 100 km from Rundu. This is the only hospital for a radius of 50kms with its 8 clinics around and 52 outreach points where the service is given by the mobile team reaching once in a month in each point. The Hospital is a 120-bed hospital with 4 Doctors, 13 Registered nurses and 16 Enrolled nurses working with the other support staff. The average occupancy rate of the hospital last year was 92% and during Malaria seasons the actual number of inpatients goes up to 130 to 140 and some of them have to keep on the floor bed. The Namibian Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Services subsidizes the hospital but the funds are insufficient and many of the important activities are often suspended. The arrival of a container with medical supplies, equipments, and beds has partially alleviated these needs. The container has been donated by the Order of Malta and has been delivered by Marcello and Lalla during their last visit to the Hospital on the 19th of July 2008.

Marcello Bandettini - Order of Malta delegation of Pisa