Chitokoloki Mission Hospital
Chitokoloki, Zambia
Hospital Website
Mission Organization
Christian Missions in Many Lands
Minimum Time Requirement
The hospital asks that you serve a minimum of three weeks in the specialties of anesthesiology, dentistry, family medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics, physical therapy, and plastic surgery.
Profile
Chitokoloki Mission Hospital is a 200-bed hospital that serves a patient population of 150,000 in the Northwest Province of Zambia. The hospital is located on the Zambezi River. The hospital facility has four large wards and three smaller wards, including a 25-bed pediatrics ward and a 25-bed OBG ward. There is also a seven-bed ICU, an ER, pharmacy, kitchen, and a laundry area. Another block of buildings houses three operating theatres, an X-ray department, and an eye and dental clinic. There is another section of the hospital that houses the on-site outpatient clinic that services up to 400 persons each day. In this area there is also a laboratory and an HIV/AIDS clinic, several wards, and offices. There is also a 110-bed leprosy/TB colony with its own staff. The hospital is usually filled to capacity, with extra mattresses on the floor. Current hospital staff includes both nationals and expatriates. A general surgeon is the only full-time expatriate physician at the hospital. There are two CRNAs.
Travel
Fly by commercial airline into Lusaka; take a mission flight (approximately two hours) to Chitokoloki. Upon arrival, you will be given a brief orientation, which includes a hospital and mission tour.
Climate
The months of June and July are winter, with temperatures ranging from around 80°F during the day to 42°F at night. The hottest months are September and October when temperatures range from the low 90s during the day to the low 60s at night. The rest of the year, temperatures range from the low-to-mid 80s during the day to lower 60s at night. The rainy season is from November–March.
Language
Most Zambians speak English, including all hospital staff.
Religion
The majority of Zambians practice some form of Christianity. Many of these have not totally forgotten their traditional roots and still hold many of these beliefs. Islam and Hinduism also are practiced.
Common Diseases
Malnutrition, malaria, tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS, and dengue fever
Anesthesia
General, spinal, and Ketamine
Charting
English
Dental
Functioning chair with an overhead light. Plenty of instruments for extractions, whose compose 90 percent of the workload. Good supply of masks, gloves, anesthetic, and syringes. Functioning suction unit. Functioning drill but slow and few burs to choose from. Filling material is scarce. No material for amalgam fillings. For white filling, there was a curing light but very little composite filling materials with no wedges matrix bands to place the fillings properly.
Surgery
There are two operating rooms with surgeries scheduled virtually every day. Operating room is well equipped for both general and orthopedic surgery. Two endoscopes are available. Some capacity for laparoscopic procedures. Surgeons perform up to 14 surgeries a day.
Teaching
Opportunities for informal teaching occur every day during ward rounds. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, there are formal half-hour lectures given on various topics. Short-term volunteers are free to share on a topic related to their specialty.
Ultrasound
Total of three machines, fixed and portable
