Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess health facilities’ readiness to provide safe surgical care during Ebola and COVID-19 era in Uganda and in the Eastern DR Congo.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected national, regional referral and general hospital facilities in Uganda and in the eastern part of DR Congo from 1st August 2020 to 30th October 2020. Data was analysed using Stata version 15.ResultsThe participation rate was of 37.5 % (72/192) for both countries. None of the hospitals fulfilled the readiness criteria for safe surgical care provision in both countries. The mean bed capacity of participating health facilities (HF) was 184 in Eastern DR Congo and 274 in Uganda with an average surgical ward bed capacity of 22.3 % (41/184) and 20.4 % (56/274) respectively. The mean number of operating rooms was 2 and 3 in Eastern DR Congo and Uganda respectively. Nine hospitals (12.5 %) reported being able to test for Ebola and 25 (34.7 %) being able to test for COVID-19. Postponing of elective surgeries was reported by 10 (13.9) participating hospitals. Only 7 (9.7 %) hospitals reported having a specific operating room for suspect or confirmed cases of Ebola or COVID-19. Appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was reported to be available in 60 (83.3 %) hospitals. Most of the staff had appropriate training on donning and doffing of PPE 40 (55.6 %). Specific teams and protocols for safe surgical care provision were reported to be present in 61 (84.7 %) and 56 (77.8 %) respectively in Uganda and Eastern DR Congo participating hospitals.ConclusionsThe lack of readiness to provide safe surgical care during Ebola and COVID-19 era across the participating hospitals in both countries indicate a need for strategies to enhance health facility supplies and readiness for safe surgical provision in resource-limited settings.
Highlights
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and spread worldwide, health facilities are intensifying measures for protecting patients and health workers from this highly infectious disease [1]
Study design and setting This was a cross-sectional study conducted in selected national, regional referral hospitals (R.R.H) and general hospitals (G.H.) of Uganda and in the tertiary hospitals (T.H) and general hospitals (G.H) of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where surgeries are being done during Ebola and COVID-19 era
Health facilities readiness for safe surgical care provision in Ebola and COVID-19 era Out of 72 respondent hospitals, 9 (12.5 %) reported being able to test for Ebola and 25 (34.7 %) being able to test for COVID-19
Summary
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and spread worldwide, health facilities are intensifying measures for protecting patients and health workers from this highly infectious disease [1]. The spread of the COVID-19 virus in health facilities is largely from asymptomatic patients and healthcare providers and those with mild or nonspecific respiratory syndromes, leading to a cluster of nosocomial infections [3]. A total of 3,317 confirmed EVD cases and a death toll of 2,287 patients including healthcare workers (HCWs) and two fatalities registered in the neighboring Uganda was reported [4, 5]. The 12th EVD outbreak declared in Butembo on 7th February 2021 by the DRC Ministry of Health with a total of 12 cases, 6 deaths (case fatality rate 50 %) by its end on 3rd May 2021[6]
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