THE KALTHOK CLINIC

Abraham Awolich, with support from the Isakine Foundaiton, opened SUDEF’s first clinic in Kalthok, South Sudan in 2007.  This clinic was the result of his first visit back to Sudan in 2006 after 17 years in exile.  During Abraha,‘s first visit home there was a cholera and meningitis outbreak in the village.  With no medical clinics or hospitals the villagers had difficulty containing the disease and many people in the village suffered and died.  They looked to Abraham to help them with their lack of health services. 

As a result of this visit and community forums Abraham held in Minkamman and Kalthok Abraham and the community formulated a plan to build a local clinic in Kalthok that would serve the surrounding area. 

Currently the Kalthok clinic operates out of a small building recently renovated with a verandah, pharmacy and office space for staff.  The clinic was built, and is staffed and run entirely by the local community.  Patients await treament on the verandah or under a huge tamarind tree in front of the clinic and the medical assistant and staff work out of the office.

The clinic serves a population of roughly 25,000 in an area that encompasses 11 villages.  The primary operating cost is the purchase of medications and personnel.  The clinic staff is funded in part by the local government and local foundation grants and the local people have now begun paying for services through either bartering work at the clinic or fee for service.

Below are some statistics gathered during a 4 month period during 2009.  This graph demonstrates the type of illness, disease and trauma the clinic is seeing on a regular basis.

KALTHOK CLINIC REPORT 2010

JANUARY - FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL

Diseases                                                               # of Males    # of Females    Total

Malaria                                                                                  194         276            479                      

Upper Respiratory Infections                                                   128             115            243

Lower Respiratory infections                                           32              32                    64 Watery diarrhea                                                            58              41                   99 Bloody diarrhea (dysentery)                                                  24              20                    44 

Common Disease

Intestinal Parasite                                                                  47              44                   91 

Eye Infection                                                                  60              44                 104   Skin Infections                                                                76              52                 128  STD’s                                                                                       11            16                  27

Sever Malnutrition                                                                     61           42                103  

Injuries - Burn wounds                                                               24             7                  31 

Other diseases                                                                          64            47               111

Grand Total 4 month period                                             821             776            1,597

Miscarriages                                                                                        7

Deliveries at clinic                                                                                1

Tuberculosis - 5 cases under treament in Bunagok CCM Organization

Reported cases of Death during 4 month period

5 death from malaria - 9 children with measles - 2 death from watery diarrhea

MATERNAL CHILD & HEALTH & TRAINING CENTER

The Maternal & Child Health and Training Center at the Kalthok medical compound aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the Kalthok region in South Sudan.  This unit will be dedicated to providing information and training to expectant and lactating mothers on prenatal care, identifying risk in pregnancy that may lead to complications for either mother or child.  The project will trian health care providers, specially local traditional birth attendants on the fundamentals of prenatal and post natal care and improved techniques and equipment for providing birth assistance.

The overarching goal of the Maternal & Child Health Unit is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.  To achieve our vision we have three objectives:

Objective 1:  Create a space dedicated to maternal and child health at the existing medical compound in Kalthok

Objective 2:  Provide care, training, resources and information to mothers during pregnancy, labor , birth and postpartum.

Objective 3:  Timely referrals and transport of mothers and babies with complications beyond the clinic’s capacity to hospitals in Bor or Juba.

We invite you to join us in helping this community improve the health and well-being of mothers and children.  With your support we can answer this call.

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