Covid Response at the Karatu Medical Centre

Along with the rest of the world, COVID 19 is also a fact of daily life in Tanzania, above all in a medical centre. Staff in Karatu have not only had to ensure that special measures are adhered to in FAME’s own facilities but have also supported medical workers at other health centres in the wider region with training. As members of the District COVID 19 Task Force, Siana Nkya, COVID 19 Coordinator and Supervisor of Emergency Care at FAME, and Consultant Dr Gabriel, have trained over 300 workers in the national Health Service. A fantastic achievement!

In the medical centre itself, procedures have been changed and protective measures put in place to guarantee the health and safety of staff and patients.

Outside the clinic, a test area has been set up where every new arrival is checked against a checklist for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms. Arrivals who show symptoms are treated in a separate wing of the clinic.
All patients receive a home-made face covering.
An isolation unit has been set up for COVID 19 patients.
Throughout the medical centre, handwashing stations with taps and soap have been set up so that staff and patients can wash their hands thoroughly as they enter and leave the premises. At each handwashing station, a member of staff ensures that everyone uses them.
Patients who come just for prescriptions are served in a separate area (away from the Emergency Room).
The number of visitors has been limited and visiting hours have been reduced.
All staff members have been allocated a specific workstation or hygiene group to decrease the danger of internal transmission of the virus.
The volunteer programme has been suspended for the time being to prevent the introduction of the virus from other countries.

Its amazing to see how the FAME team has handled this difficult situation with limited means. Protective equipment has been devised with resourcefulness, such as eye protection made from plastic document wallets. Everything possible has been done to keep people in the clinic up to date and to maintain high hygiene standards. New procedures have been developed and tested so that they can be used appropriately. Despite the extra effort and increased workload, the emphasis remains on the patients and providing friendly, professional care.

We congratulate those involved for their commitment and creativity.

To continue delivering essential services and adapting to the local public health situation, FAME urgently needs financial support.