The Hospital

Brief History – Panguma Hospital

Panguma Hospital was built by National Diamond Mining Company (NDMC). and opened in 1965 under the auspices of the Catholic Mission. From 1965 to 1986, the Holy Rosary Sisters were responsible for the functioning of the Hospital.

The Holy Rosary Sisters withdrew in 1986 and the hospital was closed for four months. The full proprietorship was offered to the Catholic Mission by the Paramount Chief and his authorities. Following the signing over of the hospital to the Mission, the Hospital re-opened in September, 1986, managed by the local Catholic Parish Priest, Fr. Felim McAllister, C.S. Sp – RIP.

At this initial stage the hospital was administrated by overseas volunteer, administrator, medical and nursing staff with some local staff. The Daughters of Charity took over the hospital in October, 1989 with Fr. McAllister still serving as Administrator. In 1989 the electricity from Hydro was installed. This was a great asset to the hospital and the Town. In 1990, the Water Aid Project, phase one was completed and water was supplied to all areas of the hospital. The Hospital was then set up with national electricity and water.

The civil war broke out in 1992, but Panguma Hospital continued to offer dedicated services to the people, especially the war-wounded on to March 1994 when they were forced to close down as a hospital. This happened after the tragic event where Fr. McAllister, Eelco Krijn (a Dutch volanteer doctor from CORDAID) and his wife Karin Goudoever and daughter Zita lost their lives at the front gate in service to the community during the rebel war. Their wonderfull service to the hospital and the community will always be remembered.

On a sporadic basis, the few local staff headed by Mathias Seppeh, continued to run the hospital as a Clinic. The Panguma Hospital during the war was destroyed and looted. It was rehabilitated with funds from Catholic Relief Services, CORDAID and Irish Aid. It became fully functional in September 2006 when Dr Hennie Zonderland, a Dutch doctor from CORDAID, Netherlands arrived. Together with the local staff and the community a great job was done to rehabilitate the hospital. And everyone can be proud of how the hospital is functioning today. In 2008 Dr Carolien Sluimers functioned as the interim medical officer until february 2009 when the current doctor, Rutger Anten, arrived for a period of 2 years.

Since the hospital became fully functional, the following facilities now exist, even though services may not be of top quality:- Out-patient, In-patient (130 bed capacity spread over Children’s, Male, Female, Maternity and TB Wards), Laboratory, Pharmacy, Theatre, Ultrasound equipment. The X-ray machine was destroyed during the war and it will require a heavy investment to acquire one X-ray machine.

In the 2009, we have a picture of a hospital that is struggling to provide quality services with very limited resources and no national electricity. The Hospital still heavily relies on donor support as the Government of Sierra Leone does not subsidize mission hospitals. No bed or staff grants are given. The Hospital management continues to press for grants from the government, even if for the next decade.

Mission Statement

Kenema Diocese Healthcare sector strives towards “accessible, affordable, equitable healthcare with a particular emphasis on provision for the poor and vulnerable people.”

In this statement, Panguma Hospital as a faith-based hospital desires to fulfill its vision of the ‘Healing Philosophy’ of Jesus Christ’ – serving the poor, needy and vulnerable such as:

• Ø Women and particularly women with maternal problems during and after pregnancy
• Ø Under fives children with particular focus on malaria, the main killer disease among children,
• Ø TB patients
• Ø Epileptics
• Ø Fragile elderly
• Ø HIV.AIDS infected and affected

Objectives

Overall Objective

To provide an affordable healthcare service backed with a Health Promotion/Hygiene and Growth Monitoring facility to improve the health of the society (particularly mothers and children) in Lower Bambara chiefdom. Aiming for a healthier society may help to improve the physical strength of the community to enable them emerge from the binding poverty trap in which they find themselves.

Specific Objectives

To create a healthy community by providing a full service of health care for Panguma Hospital, responding the needs of the community and extending the facilities of the Ministry of Health.

Composition of Panguma Hospital

The Proprietor – Bishop P.D. Kororma

The Health Coordinator – Vacant

The Technical Adviser – Mr Bob Moran

The Director – Ms. Theresa E Songu

The Medical Superintendent – Dr. Rutger Anten

The Matron – Ms Hawa Rogers

The Office Manager – Vacant

Services Offered

Out-Patient

In-Patient – Pediatric (Under Fives), Maternity (Ante Natal & Post Natal), Adults

Surgical Operation

Laboratory Tests

Pharmacy

Ambulance

Ultra Sound

Outreach

Operational Area

Lower Bambara Chiefdom

Dodo Chiefdom

Malegohun Chiefdom

Any Area outside the targeted chiefdoms

Target population: 100,000

Hospital Contacts

Theresa Songu – Hospital Director

Adress:

P.O.Box 200,

Kenema, Sierra Leone,

West Africa

E-mail: pangumahospital@gmail.com

Dr Rutger Anten – Medical Superintendent

Adress:

P.O.Box 200,

Kenema, Sierra Leone,

West Africa

E-mail: rutgeranten@hotmail.com

Matron Hawa Rogers