Improving Health Care in the Kumbungu District in Northern Ghana

The project aimed to enhance the professional competence of KMC medical staff by offering consultations and training, and by arranging work shadowing placements in Klinikum Dortmund. It also aimed to improve the medical facilities in the hospital in Bontanga. The project thus helped to improve local health care and reduce child mortality in the region.

The project contributed to achieving the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It also contributed to poverty reduction, the reduction of hunger and improved access to water and sanitation (SDGs 1, 2 and 6).

Improved infection prevention and control and water supply
Due to the very poor hygiene standards at KMC, the project focused on improving infection prevention and control to prevent the transmission of disease in the hospital. A well was drilled and the water storage capacity was increased to ensure a supply of clean running water.

A hygiene unit was created at KMC that developed hygiene standards and guidelines and set up monitoring bodies. The project offered consultations and training in Ghana and arranged work shadowing placements at Klinikum Dortmund to train the relevant team for its tasks. In addition, materials and equipment were procured to improve hygiene at KMC and to protect staff; moreover, two health campaigns were organised in KMC’s catchment area to raise awareness about infection risks and communicable diseases.

Expanded diagnostic capabilities
Laboratory equipment was procured and made available to KMC to strengthen the diagnostic capacity of the KMC laboratory.

Better treatment options for newborns
In order to reduce the infant mortality rate, KMC started to provide neonatal care. A wide range of medical equipment was procured to equip a neonatal unit at the Centre. Training was provided in Bontanga by staff from Klinikum Dortmund to enhance the skills of the relevant KMC staff – in particular for treating jaundice in newborns and for midwives. Work shadowing placements at Klinikum Dortmund were offered to provide in-service training for KMC staff. In addition, consultations were held on how to improve work processes in the neonatal unit and in the delivery room.

The KMC neonatal unit was opened in October 2023, offering better medical care for mothers and newborns at KMC.

Reduced malnutrition in young children
The Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre, which is affiliated to KMC, serves to combat acute malnutrition in young children. The equipment required for large-scale kitchens was procured for KMC to produce oral nutritional supplements to treat malnourished children. The Centre therefore no longer needs to buy expensive build-up food on a regular basis. In addition, events were held in the region to provide information about the services offered by the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre and to give advice on family planning.

Expanded competencies in surgical techniques
To expand the competencies of the specialist staff responsible for operations at KMC, training courses, consultations and internships were organised at Klinikum Dortmund for KMC employees. In addition, medical equipment was procured for the KMC operating theatre along with surgical instruments to enable staff to carry out operations such as laparotomies and hysterectomies professionally on site. As a result of the additional skills acquired by the relevant staff and better equipment in the operating theatre, surgery at KMC is now associated with fewer risks.