Emergency Care Capacity Building in Kisumu, Kenya

Project Site: Kisumu, Kenya

UIC Lead Faculty Contact: Janet Lin

Other UIC involved faculty: Vinay Mikkilineni

Partner Organization(s): Kisumu County Ministry of Health, JOOTRH (teaching and referral hospital), Maseno University

Project goal: Build capacity to provide emergency care in Kisumu, Kenya

Project Summary:

The development of emergency medicine and pre-hospital care frameworks has been identified as a priority to be addressed in Kenya. The burden of emergency conditions in Kenya is one of the highest compared to other low- and middle-income countries throughout the world. There is an emerging demand to build capacity for emergency care in resource-limited settings.

A collaborative relationship between Kisumu County’s MOH and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine conducted an initial assessment for emergency care capacity across the county. Results showed significant gaps in general infrastructure, with only 3 facilities having surgical capabilities and many lacking necessary supplies; formal emergency medicine training is another major gap in all facilities. Only one-third of personnel in Casualty areas have basic emergency medicine training, and less one-third of facilities have an adequate triage system. Misguided referrals from remote community level facilities, insufficient communication between hospitals, and limited means of transport lead to significant delays in care.

In collaboration with Kisumu County’s MOH WHO’s Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course was delivered for the first time in Kenya in 2019, addressing triage assessment and appropriate disposition between facilities. Capacity building in ongoing.

Grounds of another county hospital in Kisumu, Kenya