The hospital is in great need of renovation.  To give you an idea, it has:

•  no running water
•  no baths for washing the children
• no flush toilets
•  no washing machines
•  limited bed linen and covered mattresses (no linen in children's ward)
•  no fly screens or security screens (high incidence of  Malaria in Zambia)
•  no resources to supply nutritious food
•  In the children's ward mothers or relatives have to stay with all sick patients as there is a shortage of nursing staff to assist, they have to provide a blanket as there is no linen or blankets supplied.  The only facilities for bathing the children are two tubs outside under the water tank in the yard, as this is the only water supply available for the children's ward.          

Many children are admitted with malaria, as the ward is not screened many who come with other ailments are infected with malaria as well. During the day the flies go from one patient to the next. 

      When we went to visit the ward, the hospital's Administrator took us on a tour through the hospital.  After seeing the  conditions we asked him in what ways Oz Kids could help. He replied, "please help feed the children as the hospital does not have the resources to feed  patients nutritious meals they receive  corn-meal porridge for breakfast and corn-meal with  cabbage for lunch and dinner"  He went on to say the majority of  the children coming into the hospital are already malnourished and with the lack of further nourishment it is difficult to make them well. Oz kids has been running a feeding program when funds make it possible         

         The hospital  maternity ward was also in need of the most basic things,   The sheets in the photos above had blood stains and many were torn. There is no washing machines in working order at the hospital.

       A  high number of woman die during or after child birth, this is a great problem in Zambia.

       We are opening a birthing clinic at our new premises sometime in 2011. A 40ft container with the needed medical equipment for the clinic and goods for the home arrived in Zambia in November, most is in storage, there are many items for the Hospital as well when it is sorted.