Imaging in Developing Countries |
Special Interest Group |
Visits to St James Mission Hospital, Lesotho |
Much remains to be achieved, particularly with regard to training, and we hope it will be possible to build further on the work done. The warmth and friendliness of staff and local people, and the beauty of this remote part of Lesotho, made our time at St James an unforgettable experience. |
Following an appeal for volunteer radiographers, three members of the IDCSIG, Angela Ramsay, Hilary Noakes and Julia Williams, have undertaken placements at this hospital situated in mountainous countryside in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Angela was the first to go, in November 2006, with Hilary following in December. Julia vistied most recently in February/March 2007. |
St James Hospital was built in 1963, to bring medical services to a scattered population of mainly subsistence farmers. It has around 60 beds, though generally no more than 20 inpatients. There are at present three doctors, one from the UK and two from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because of the isolated position, staff live on site in the small houses provided. There is mains electricity and a back-up generator but no land telephone line. |
There are outpatient and maternity services, pharmacy, pathology, theatre, x-ray and ultrasound facilities. Many patients are suffering from TB and a number are being treated for HIV/AIDS. Caesarean sections are performed and minor injuries are treated. More serious cases are transferred to the capital, Maseru (three hours drive away, partly on dirt roads). Patients have to pay for each investigation or treatment. Travel in the area is mainly on foot or on horseback and many patients walk long distances to the hospital. Pregnant women are encouraged to come and stay in a special shelter as their delivery time approaches. |
The hospital has an established x-ray room and darkroom. There is a Korean mobile x-ray machine, but kept in a fixed position 150cm from an upright chest stand; the tube head can be rotated for a horizontal beam or to be vertical to the couch. The couch has no wheels nor bucky, but can be moved fairly easily. There is a light beam diaphragm and collimation is possible. Processing is by wet developing in a standard series of tanks, but washing is done in a separate sink, and drying by handheld hairdrier – all very time-consuming. |
St James Mission Hospital |
A pelvis X-ray covered in static marks |
Currently there is no qualified radiographer. X-rays have been taken by other staff, e.g. an assistant nurse or a pharmacy technician, depending on availability. |
Most of the doctors’ requests are for chest x-rays; many patients have TB and embark on drug therapy on their first visit. There are a number of trauma cases, e.g. falls from horses, or the results of fighting. |
The dark room |
Our work was on three fronts: |
The x-ray unit |
The hospital also has a fairly modern Siemens ultrasound machine that the doctors use to look at pregnancies, though it is programmed to examine the whole range of organs. |
Angela and Hilary’s Report |
Julia’s Report |
I volunteered to work at St. James' Mission Hospital, Mantsonyane, Lesotho, from 24th February to 24th March 2007. This is a short account of my experience. |