Projects
The Heineken Africa Foundation aims at supporting the improvement of health for people living in Sub-Saharan African communities by financially supporting relevant health projects and health-related education. Projects are carried out in countries in which Heineken is operating and with the support of a 3rd party; an NGO, a governmental organisation or a commercial business.
Click on a country for more information on running projects
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Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world. Women are vulnerable, because they are primary care-givers for the family.
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South Africa
In South Africa, health care is provided by both the public sector and a smaller private sector. Mostly, basic primary health care is provided free by the state and highly specialised private health care services are available for those who can afford it.
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Community Health Centre in the district of Bugendana
The construction of a Community Health Centre in Burundi aims at improving access to primary health care for the community of Bugendana, a rural district in the province of Gitega, which is the location of one of the breweries of Brarudi.
Preparations are made for laying the foundation stone for the new Community Health Centre.
The new Community Health Centre supported by the Heineken Africa Foundation.
Instruction is given at the new Community Health Centre.
Since there are no roads to the village, this community is very isolated. In addition to this, no school facilities are provided or any basic facilities such as electricity or water. Although most inhabitants in this region include subsistence farmers, there are no markets that provide them with the opportunity to trade. Political instability and insecurity during the past few years have further deteriorated social and economic development.
As there is no health centre in the village, inhabitants need to travel for at least three hours on foot to reach the nearest hospital. Information on HIV or Aids nor obstetric care are available. People who need treatment have little resources to pay for medical expenses. Although the Government is supposed to support the most vulnerable in their medical expenses, this does not work in practice. The health care sector is plagued by substantial funding shortfalls.
Because of this situation, the inhabitants of Bugendana have requested the Government to participate in the construction of a health centre. In response, the Government has promised a piece of land for this clinic and they have indicated their willingness to pay for qualified medical staff. Yet medicine, drugs and consumables need to be supplied, in which the clinics of the Heineken Africa Foundation will play a role.
Objectives
The project supports the construction of a Community Health Centre in order to provide medical care.
It includes the construction of the health centre itself and a dispensary. It also stocks a pharmacy and
guarantees the continuation of the supply of medicine and consumables. The project also employs permanent staff
and creates a qualified management team. Although the success of this clinic will for a large part depend on the
management, the political stability of Burundi and governmental support for sufficiently trained staff will also
have an impact on its success.
This project is a collaboration of the Burundi Ministry of the Interior, who provided the plot of land, the Ministry of Health, who supplies properly trained staff, representatives of the local community and the Brarudi brewery. Further expertise is derived from a representative of the local United Nations organisation. The planning of the construction of this clinic was carried out in collaboration with the Supply Chain Management of Brarudi.
The Management Committee of the clinic includes representatives from each organisation or group. At the end of each year, the Management Committee, in collaboration with representatives of the Heineken Africa Foundation, will review progress and development of the project. Supervisory visits are organised and internal and external audits will be carried out. Reports will be produced on progress and on further recommendations.
Medical care of infant anaemia in Kinshasa
Sickle-cell anemia (SCA), or drepanocytosis, is a genetic life-long blood disorder characterised by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, sickle shape, which tend to form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels. The ‘c-shaping’ or sickling, decreases the cells' flexibility and is caused by a mutation of the haemoglobin gene. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections and organ damage.
Sickle cell anaemia varies from person to person. Some people who have the disease have chronic (long-term) pain or fatigue (tiredness). The pain along with anaemia lead to absenteeism at school. As a result, SCA leads to analphabetism and underdevelopment in general. In some settings, these SCA children are considered as troublemakers as they are always sick. For that reason, some parents hide their ill children to avoid this stigmatisation. However, with proper care and treatment, many people who suffer from the disease can have improved quality of life and reasonable health much of the time.
Yet life expectancy of SCA sufferers is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 and 48 years for males and females, respectively.
Sickle-cell disease, usually presenting in childhood, occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) in tropical and sub-tropical regions where malaria is or was common. One-third of all indigenous inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa carry the gene.
Healthy, circular-shaped cells
and abnormal, sickle-shaped cells.
According to WHO recommendations (Executive Board 117/34, 2005), dedicated centres are required in order to ensure adequate prevention and treatment. Sickle-cell anemia can effectively be prevented. Adoption of preventive measures goes hand-in-hand with health education: couples at risk of having affected children can be identified by inexpensive and reliable blood tests; youth and scholar education can discourage marriage between couples who are at risk; mass media education will reduce discrimination. The use of mosquitoes’ nets and penicillin, coupled with specific vaccines will reduce early mortality. Elsewhere, neonatal diagnosis is useful where appropriate counseling is available and adequate primary care can be provided to those affected.
Target groups include infants aged under 5 years and their mothers in Mont Ngafula, a semi-urban area in South Kinshasa - which has a population of 300,000 inhabitants - and in surrounding regions. At least 5,000 newborns will be screened, as well as approximately 300 infants currently suffering from sickle-cell anemia.
The project, supported by the Heineken Africa Foundation, is carried out at the Monkole Hospital Centre, which is a General Referee Hospital in Mont Ngafula, associated with a nurses’ school and a medical educational center. It has great expertise on sickle-cell disease: a systematic screening of approx 35,000 newborns has been carried out over a 3-year period and revealed a prevalence of SCA infants. More than 200 SCA patients were actually treated and a good SCA management programme has been implemented in the Mont Ngafula region.
The contract for the blood bank and its activities is signed by Dr Tshilolo Leon (l),
Medical Doctor at Monkole Hospital Centre, and Hans van Mameren (r), General Manager
of Bralima, Kinshasa,
while Dr Charles Kitenge, Medical Director of Bralima, looks on.
Objectives
In order to protect the sickle-cell anemia patients against risks related to blood transfusions, early diagnosis of
SCA (in newborns and infants) and implementation of a local blood bank has been set up in Monkole Hospital Centre,
a semi-urban Referee Hospital in Kinshasa. This programme aims at implementing early diagnosis programmes and comprehensive
SCA management in the Mont Ngafula region. It also aims at reducing the risks related to blood transfusion in SCA patients.
A blood bank unit has been established and a network of volunteer donors has been created in Monkole Hospital Center. The
diagnostic capacities of Monkole laboratories is also improved. An educational programme on sickle-cell disease has been
developed and training has been given to approximately 215 health workers.
Systematic SCA screening will be applied on 5,000 newborns and infants in maternities and Health Centres surrounding Monkole Hospital Centre. In the first quarter of 2010, a total of approximately 630 tests were carried out, of which 100 children were vaccinated after detection. In addition, a follow-up programme has been applied to approximately 60 newly detected SCA patients. Early detection and treatment will reduce the needs of blood transfusion and periodic serological tests (including HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B viruses) will detect the contaminated patients. Specific measures will be applied in order to reduce complications and mortality in the affected patients.
All the equipment purchased through this sponsorship is used in Monkole laboratories and activities on sickle-cell management is continued, as the Monkole Hospital Centre has a vast experience and expertise in this field. Supplementary funds will be mobilised by the International Community as SCA has just been recognized as a public priority in United Nations.
Performance of the new equipment at Centre’s laboratories enables more biochemical and immunological tests and results from newborn screening will be used for research and scientific publications.
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The equipment purchased through this sponsorship is used in Monkole laboratories.
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A nurse working with the new Minividas, funded by the Heineken Africa Foundation.
Improvement of paediatric care and treatment in Bukavu, DRC
Located in the Eastern part of DRC, the city of Bukavu has about 500,000 inhabitants. It is subdivided in three health areas Ibanda, Kudutu and Bagira, with each having a hospital of reference. Complicated cases are referred to the main hospital of the Bukavu district. All these hospitals serve four classical specialities: surgery, maternity ward, internal and paediatrics medicine.
In spite of these structures, the child mortality remains relatively high in Bukavu. This is mainly due to the limited availability of medical care for children during the first stages of admission to hospital. Paediatric emergency guidelines are not in place. To avoid this inordinate mortality, it would be appropriate for a Bukavu hospital to have an emergency ward for children, with equipped rooms of admission, observation and resuscitation and a good laboratory.
In addition, there is a substantial need for well-trained medical staff that is able to recognize general symptoms and as a result the best possible treatment
The city of Bukavu, DRC
Objectives
This project supports Panzi Hospital in improving paediatric care and treatment. This clinic is a private hospital located in
Bukavu, which is funded by the Relief and Development Department of the Swedish Pentecostal Church, a charity that focuses on treatment
of women who are victims of sexual violence. The hospital has a regional and even national function and treats an extremely vulnerable
group of victims in eastern DRC.
Panzi Hospital, Bukavu
The level of paediatric care is relatively basic but there is no other hospital in Bukavu that can offer more. As part of this project, an inventory is made of the exact needs in terms of existing infrastructure, future infrastructural needs and training in paediatrics and quality management.
On this basis, the project seeks to participate in the reduction of child mortality and to equip paediatric emergency services with rooms of admission. Medicines will be provided as starting stock. Capacities of medical staff are reinforced and training in paediatric emergency guidelines is carried out.
Through the Bralima Foundation, a medical management expert is hired to manage implementation of this project. Collaboration with Bukavu University has been established for the training of nurses. Logistics are supervised by the Bralima supply chain manager.
Front of the ward, which will be renovated as paediatric emergency service.
The new paediatric clinic at Panzi Hospital is officially opened.
For further information on the activities of Panzi Hospital see www.panzihospitalbukavu.org.
New Blood Transfusion Centre in Kisangani, DRC
The Centre Provincial de la Transfusion Sanguine (Provincial Centre of Blood Transfusion, CPTS) created in 2005 is a state owned extension of the National Blood Transfusion Branch of the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The CPTS is the unit responsible for collecting blood and for making it available in all hospitals and medical centres in the eastern DRC. The Centre is headed by the Provincial Physician Coordinator and manages all blood transfusion in Tshopo, the largest province in DRC. It processes an average of 25,000 blood pockets per year, including 3,000 in Kisangani city.
The current Provincial Centre of Blood Transfusion in Kisangani.
One of the often recurring illnesses that needs to be treated by blood transfusion in this region is anaemia, a decrease in normal number of red blood cells or a low quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The CPTS has never had its own building in Kisangani and its current rented accommodation is not only inadequate, it will be cleared by the owner because the centre has no sufficient funding.
Objectives
Although CPTS has well-trained nurses and staff, satisfactory equipment and a well-operating administration, it badly needs it own building. The Heineken Africa Foundation funds the construction of such a new building. The creation of this centre strengthens the capacity of current blood transfusion in Kisangani and Tshopo province, it enhances hygiene and hence improves blood safety.
The Tshopo Provincial Department of Health provides the site, which is part of the University Clinics of the Kisangani General Hospital.
Once the centre has been opened, blood transfusion can be expanded, while children, pregnant women and sickle cell patients in particular will benefit from this new facility. A special target group includes children under 5, who suffer from anaemia due to malaria or malnutrition. The new location will also help attract new volunteer blood donors.
The new centre strengthens the capacity of blood transfusion,
it enhances hygiene and hence it improves blood safety.
Construction of the new Blood Transfusion Centre is in progress.
Sports hall and Ergo Therapy Room in Kisangani
Early November 2011, the Heineken Africa Foundation, Bralima Foundation and Centre Simama agreed to partner in providing a sports hall and a therapy room in an education centre in a Kisangani province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kisangani is a town with 900 000 inhabitants, while the Eastern Province has about 13 000 000 inhabitants. Around 3 % of the people of Kisangani are disabled which means there are 27 000 disabled people in the town, and around 290,000 across the province.
There is just one centre in the Eastern Province which can treat the physically disabled, the Centre Simama. This centre is staffed by 7 physiotherapists and 2 orthopedic experts, working hard to provide service to the local people.
Scientific research has shown the importance of therapeutic sport and ergo therapy (treatment of disease by muscular exercise) and while this approach is widely used in Europe, it is barely heard of in Congo. At a hospital in Lubutu, 300km from Kisangani, doctors and nurses have recently been trained in ergo therapy and the results have been very positive.
To provide the people of Kisangani with the same facilities, The Heineken Africa Foundation will provide money to build a sports hall and an ergo therapy room at the Centre Simama. The local Heineken subsidiary in Kisangani, Bralima, will help implement the project. The ergo therapy, equipment and training of medical staff will be provided by Handicap International.
The new facilities are planned to be in place in February 2012, offering the much needed support for the disabled people in and around Kisangani.
For more information on the activities of the Centre Simama, please visit: www.centresimama.com
Bonnes Routes!
In September 2011 the Heineken Africa Foundation approved funding for the first phase of the Bonnes Routes! project. This project aims to link the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into an innovative regional network of health services focused on combating the spread of high impact diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria along the major transport routes in sub‐Saharan Africa.
The project is jointly run by North Star Alliance and PharmAccess. North Star and PharmAccess are already working closely with local government, humanitarian and business partners in the DRC, including HEINEKEN’s operating company Bralima, to introduce Roadside Wellness Centres (RWCs) into the public health system. Support from the Heineken Africa Foundation enables the partners to significantly scale up the already committed support.
Surrounding of North Star Bukavu office
Specifically, the Bonnes Routes! project will:
- Connect the DRC to two major networks of RWCs: the Northern Corridor running from the port of Mombasa, Kenya, to Bukavu in eastern DRC; and the North‐South Corridor connecting the copper belts of south‐eastern DRC with the port of Durban, South Africa
- Lay the foundation for a new network of RWCs for mobile populations and the communities with which they interact on the major inland transport corridor in the DRC: the Congo River.
The Bonnes Routes! project builds on a proven concept, but also aims to pioneer several important new concepts for focused health care in low‐income settings:
- A network approach to health services that extends the continuum of care along a major river.
- A new system for quality control assurance for health services that will strengthen the quality of health care provided by RWCs and other rural health service providers in the DRC.
- New cost‐recovery mechanisms to contribute to the long‐term financial sustainability of the RWCs.
If these concepts prove successful in the DRC, the benefits can be immediately transferred across the North Star network in other areas of sub‐Saharan Africa, making a win for the DRC a win for the entire network.
Surrounding of North Star Bukavu office
Clinic on the move: Mister Sister Mobile Primary Health Care Clinic
A unique public-private partnership - the Mister Sister mobile primary health care clinics - was launched in Okahandja, Namibia, on 15 June 2011. This partnership will provide regular mobile primary health care services to rural and remote populations.
With the financial support of the Heineken Africa Foundation a brand new mobile clinic has been commissioned and was launched by the Permanent Secretary of the MoHSS, Mr K. Kahuure, and the Director of the Otjozondjupa Regional Directorate, Mr P. Angala. The support was arranged through the Ohlthaver and List Group of Companies and Namibia Breweries Ltd. The Mister Sister Mobile Primary Health Care Clinics are managed by PharmAccess Foundation Namibia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the strengthening of the Namibian health system. The mobile clinic is supported through an innovative partnership structure including public and private contributions and a unique operational partnership agreement between PharmAccess and the Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services.
A brand new mobile clinic has been commissioned.
Personnel include two nurses and a driver, who is also trained to assist with administrative duties and health education. In addition to the preventative and curative health services, staff also take pride in providing health education to individuals, groups and communities. Patients who require the services of a doctor or hospital and those who cannot be treated in the mobile clinic within the scope of the nurses' practice will be referred to the nearest public health facility.
Rapama Kamehozu, Governor of the Otjozondjupa Region,
cuts the ribbon to launch the first of the three mobile clinics.
Objectives
These clinics will provide mobile health services to remote populations on a fixed route schedule in the Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Khomas regions in Namibia.
The core target group for this programme includes (non-brewery) employees and their dependents in rural areas (adults, children and babies) whose employers contribute towards the cost of the healthcare through annual subscription and premium contributions.
Communities in resource-poor settings, pensioners, orphans and vulnerable children on the clinic's route will receive the same service as those paid for by the contributions of medication from the Ministry of Health, from donors and from corporate sponsorships.
The mobile clinic in operation in remote areas.
Please click here for the Mister Sister leaflet:
'Kill Malaria Dead'
One of the projects that has been approved by the Heineken Africa Foundation is 'Kill Malaria Dead', supported by Consolidated Breweries in Nigeria. The project is aimed at building the capacity of rural dwellers in the communities of Imagbon and Iloti to take responsibility for reducing the spread of malaria. A large number of awareness and counselling visits will be organised to achieve behavioural change with respect to personal hygiene, sanitation and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. By using these bed nets, people in rural areas, including pregnant women and children, will be directly protected against incessant malaria attacks.
Statistics show that malaria ranks high among illnesses treated and that between 2004 and 2007 malaria cases have only increased. So far, the effects of government intervention to reduce the spread of malaria have been limited.
The communities in which these projects are conducted are located in Odogbolu and Ijebu-Ode Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. They are essentially rural communities in which houses are widely spread out over a vast area with hardly any medical care available. In those areas where clinics are present, the services are often very limited and characterized by erratic supply of drugs and few medical staff. As a result, only a small number of inhabitants can be treated at the available health centres.
Objectives
These bed net projects aim at reducing the prevalence of malaria in targeted
communities by at least 50 per cent. Proper research at the beginning and end of
the project will provide clarity on the progress made. First of all, the consultative
visits are to create a significant behavioural change among rural dwellers with
respect to personal hygiene, sanitation and use of mosquito nets. Relevant
information, education and communication material will be produced in form
of posters, leaflets, stickers and T- shirts. A campaign will be organised for both
communities, which will include large banners that will be featured during public
events in Imagbon and Iloti. Over a period of three years, a total of 4,500 nets will
be distributed in the two communities. In addition, two clinics in each community
will be equipped with medical malaria parasite kits for diagnosis and analysis.
The projects will also underpin responsibilities for maintaining clean drainages, a
clean environment and for ensuring effective use of equipments donated to clinics.
At the end of each year, the impact of the project will be measured by conducting relevant reviews to measure the presence and usage of bed nets and frequency of malaria attacks. Reports will be published on progress made and on further steps to be taken. The projects will be carried out by the Mayflower Center for Preventive Medicine, led by Dr. M. I. Ogayemi, in collaboration with the Human Resources department of Consolidated Breweries Plc.
This centre for preventive medicine has facilitated many health-related projects at schools and companies in different parts of the country, in collaboration with local NGOs. During the past few years, it has also carried out HIV /AIDS awareness campaigns in the workplace as well as malaria prevention and management seminars for employees of Consolidated Breweries, Iddo, Lagos, Nigeria in Lagos State, Imo State and Ogun State. This organisation is also fine-tuning a project against smoking in collaboration with some local NGOs.
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has awarded this programme a place in the elite finalist stage of the 2011 Business Action on Health Awards, among a record number of submissions.
VVF Clinic in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
In Northern Nigeria, under-age marriages occur and are culturally accepted. Yet this practice results in a higher than average prevalence of Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). This is damage of internal body tissue as a consequence of prolonged obstructed labour. VVF can also be caused by burns from chemicals that are meant to induce labour or initiate abortion. In particular, young females suffer from this condition. Worldwide about 2 million women suffer from VVF, but 80 to 90 per cent is found in Africa. Most cases of VVF can be found in northern Nigeria and other areas of West Africa. Local authorities consider VVF as a major health issue as well as a cultural and social issue. The majority of women who develop fistulas run the risk of permanent incontinence and related consequences. They become isolated because they are abandoned by their husbands and ostracized by their communities because they are unable to have children.
The VVF Centre is part Hajia Gambo-Sawaba General Hospital in Zaria and is the only clinic that treats VVF in Kaduna State, but was in serious need of renovation and upscaling. The VVF Centre is operational and it shares an operation theatre with other hospital departments but could not provide sufficient accommodation to its patients. Adequate or well-functioning surgical facilities were lacking. The medical training centre (ABUTH) that is located approximately forty kilometers away does not treat VVF. However, in 2007 the Centre in Zaria successfully treated 137 VVF cases and in 2008 135 VVF cases, in addition to conducting approximately 600 gynecological or obstetric operations every year.
Preparations are made for the official opening of the VVF clinic.
From left to right: Alhaji Jabiru, Jakada Zazzau, representative of the Emir of Zazzau - Zaria. His Excellency Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, representative of Kaduna State Governor (Mr Patrick I. Yakowa) and Mr. Bala Yesufu Public Affairs Manager (North) Nigerian Breweries Plc.
The VVF Centre is part Hajia Gambo-Sawaba General Hospital in Zaria and is the only clinic that treats VVF in Kaduna State, but it is in serious need of renovation and up scaling. The VVF Centre, which shares an operation theatre with other hospital departments, is currently operational but cannot provide sufficient accommodation to its patients and adequate or well-functioning surgical facilities are lacking. The medical training centre (ABUTH) that is located approximately forty kilometers away does not treat VVF. However, in 2007 the Centre in Zaria successfully treated 137 VVF cases and in 2008 135 VVF cases, in addition to conducting approximately 600 gynecological or obstetric operations every year.
Objectives
The grant of the Heineken Africa Foundation has been used to construct a much-needed additional building equipped with beds and furniture. It also helps to provide equipment for the operation theatre where VVF treatment is carried out. The grant has supported the purchase of furniture, including hospital beds. The hospital has agreed to take over the responsibilities of this Centre on behalf of the government once the project has been concluded.
In addition to this, the project aims at reducing the large number of patients that need to travel to a clinic in Kano, which is more than 200 kilometers away. It also reduces the waiting lists at Gwambo-Sawaba General Hospital, where patients had to wait for periods between six months to two years before they receive treatment. The VVF Centre has a qualified gynecological team under the leadership of Dr Kees Waaldijk, an experienced fistula surgeon, but the government has also promised to employ more gynecologists at the hospital.
Training of in-house surgeons and birth attendants at the VVF Ward, Zaria
As indicated elsewhere on this website, the culturally established practice of under-age marriages in Northern Nigeria results in a higher as average prevalence of Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). This is internal damage of body tissue as a consequence of prolonged obstructed labour or the result of burns from chemicals that are meant to induce labour or initiate abortion.
In particular, under-aged females suffer from this condition. Worldwide about 2 million women suffer from VVF, but 80 to 90 per cent of these are found in Africa. Most cases of VVF can be found in northern Nigeria and other northern areas of West Africa because of practices in early marriage. Local authorities consider VVF as a major health, cultural and social issue. A majority of women who develop fistulas become isolated because they are abandoned by their husbands and ostracized by their communities because of their inability to have children and other stigmatizing health issues.
At the Hajia Sawaba Gambo General Hospital, the Heineken Africa Foundation has supported the construction of a much-needed additional building for treatment of VVF. The grant has supported the purchase of furniture, including hospital beds. The VVF Ward has a qualified gynaecological surgeon, as well as an experienced fistula surgeon who visits the Centre once a month. The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has indicated they will employ more gynaecologists at the hospital. Besides surgeons, traditional birth attendants in the community impact of the activities of the VVF Centre. They identify early recognition of delivery difficulties and can ensure prompt referral leading to improved outcomes and reduction in number of patients with VVF. These future surgeons will be dedicated in-house surgeons in VVF.
VVF Ward at the Hajia Sawaba Gambo General Hospital
Objectives
The Heineken Africa Foundation, collaborating with Nigerian Breweries Plc, will provide of training for two in-house surgeons. This will lift the dependence on visiting senior consultant surgeons who join the Ward once a month. This will improve the quality of treatments and the medical skills of the VVF nurses. In addition, it will increase the number of patients admitted for VVF surgery, it will reduce waiting lists and will make the services of the VVF Centre sustainable.
There is also a need to reach out to traditional birth attendants in the community in terms of training. These birth attendants are usually the first point of contact for pregnant women. Birth attendant training will enable better treatment of VVF and allow women to be better prepared for delivery.
The government will ensure employment of the two surgeons at the centre for at least two years after the sponsored training and the government will take responsibility for their monthly fees. The training will also motivate all levels of personnel and improve the reputation of birth attendants.
Plaque commemorating the opening of the VVF Ward with the aid of the Heineken Africa Foundation.
For further information on this website, see also: http://africafoundation.heineken.com/projects.html
Support for Sickle Cell Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria
The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) is a non-governmental and non-profit making organisation dedicated to the care and control of sickle cell disorder (SCD) in Nigeria. It addresses important issues in SCD control, including research, capacity development, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation, in a sustainable manner.
In keeping with the recommendation of the World Health organisation, the Foundation has developed a comprehensive National Sickle Cell Centre on a parcel of land, opposite the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.
Sickle cell anemia (HbSS) or drepanocytosis, is a genetic life-long blood disorder, characterised by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, sickle shape, which tend to form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels. The 'c-shaping' or sickling, decreases the cells' flexibility and is caused by a mutation of the haemoglobin gene. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections and organ damage.
Healthy, circular-shaped cells and
abnormal, sickle-shaped cells.
Sickle cell disorder, usually presenting in childhood, occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) in tropical and sub-tropical regions where falciparum malaria is or was common. About one in four of all indigenous inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa carries the gene (HbAS).
Genetic counselling provides accurate, full and unbiased information to an individual affected by the genetic disorder (HbSS) and to family members and others who are healthy carriers of the gene (HbAS). It helps them to come to terms with and also cope with the disorder. They are also taught how best to look after themselves. At the National Sickle Cell Centre, counsellors provide some genetic counselling but services are very modest and much more counselling capacity is required. The Heineken Africa Foundation financially supports three projects in the context of SCD.
Objectives
First of all, the project funds counsellors employed at the National Sickle Cell Centre (NSCC), to deliver genetic counselling to a greater number of people. The counsellors ensure that clients are accurately diagnosed and well informed about their condition. They will also make sure that clients understand how to deal with their anaemia and how it will affect them. Risks are assessed, possible treatment is discussed and the course of the disorder is mapped out. All this will ensure that the client can make the best informed decision concerning prevention and treatment. The Heineken Africa Foundation will fund the counselling for a period of two years, after which the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria will ensure that the programme continues for another five years. SCFN also has access to experienced paediatricians, haematologists and neurologists in the adjacent collaborating Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Secondly, the Heineken Africa Foundation funds the infrastructure for early identification of risks of strokes due to SCD among children. Medical staff and nurses from various parts of Nigeria (including Lagos, Aba, Kaduna, Ibadan and Enugu) will be trained on the use of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound equipment. The Heineken Africa Foundation will purchase the TCD equipment which will be used to identify the risk of stroke in SCD affected children aged 2 – 16 years. The dopplers are mobile and can be moved to different locations. Thus, relevant medication will be administered to prevent possible strokes and save lives.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
Thirdly, the Heineken Africa Foundation financially supports the acquisition of equipment for the Haemoglobin Laboratory at the National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos, so that patients can be accurately diagnosed. Laboratory personnel from various parts of the country will be trained on the accurate determination of haemoglobin genotypes and other related tests.
Visit our website: www.sicklecellfoundation.com
Mini-theatre of Accident & Emergency Unit, Kaduna, Nigeria
St Gerard Catholic Hospital is a Missionary Hospital and a non-profit NGO, which is located in the centre of Kaduna, Nigeria. The hospital started as dispensary in 1957 and has grown steadily over the years into a 200-bed hospital and serves as a referral hospital for surrounding neighbouring rural health centres, hospitals and companies.
St Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria
On a daily basis, many victims of road traffic accidents are admitted to this hospital because of its strategic and central location. It is also within easy reach of various motorways: the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, the Kaduna-Kashia Expressway and the Kaduna-Kano Expressway. In 2009, a total of 3,701 road accident victims were admitted. Most of them needed urgent surgical treatment, which is carried out in the adjacent mini-theatre of the Accident and Emergency Unit. This is merely a designated space, but it has not yet been equipped. The main operating theatre of the hospital is not located close to the Unit, whereas the frequent and urgent need for surgical treatment requires a well- equipped mini-theatre close to the Unit. This is also vital to save the severely and critically injured patients who require immediate medical intervention. Most of the road accident victims admitted to this hospital have multiple traumas and orthopaedic conditions.
Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Nigeria
Objectives
This project aims at providing the equipment for the mini-theatre of the Accident & Emergency Unit. The hospital will provide the staff to employ the newly equipped mini-theatre and will be responsible for their training. The Heineken Africa Foundation will also support the construction of a female orthopaedic ward to complement the existing orthopaedic ward. This will resolve the absence of a much-needed, separate ward for females.
On completion of this project, the operating theatre and additional ward will be handed over to the Catholic Arch-diocese of Kaduna and the hospital management, which will also bear the subsequent maintenance cost. In addition, the medial team will be able to purchase the necessary equipment, which can be serviced for years.
Development of a community health centre in Amaeke, Nigeria
Amaeke village is the host community to the brewery of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Ama, located in the south eastern part of Nigeria. The major Nsukka-Nith Expressway runs close to the community, which has contributed to making the village into a trading place. Many inhabitants are farmers or traders.
The nearest public health centre is over 10 kilometres away from this community. It is located on the major express way but it has been exposed to vandalism. The road itself is also bad due to a lack of maintenance. Hence inhabitants of this community need to travel great distances under difficult circumstances for basic health case and referrals, while services are basic. Trained medical staff is sometimes absent due to a lack of security and for safety reasons. Amaeke village has a community centre, but this has no health care facility.
Bad roads make it difficult for villagers
to travel to the nearest clinic,
which is more than 10 kilometres away.
Objectives
The aim of this project is to develop a community health centre in Amaeke village, using a section of the already existing Community Civic Centre.
It will provide the infrastructure of the health centre, including a mini-laboratory for accurate of diagnosis, a drug store, rooms for treatment, observation and consultation.
Medicines and equipment will be purchased as well. Staff and nurses would be provided by the Parent Local Government Authority.
Amaeke village, other adjoining villages and the entire Umu-ezeani area, with a population of 8,000 people, will benefit from the project. Health care in this centre will focus on treatment of under fives, ante-natal care for women, immunisation needs and general treatment. Medical staff and laboratory people will be trained to the required standards.
Jaundice In Babies Awareness Programme (JIBA), Nigeria
Creating a model of an innovative child survival strategy in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, around 1 new born baby in every 22 dies, a statistic that has not changed over the past 10 years. The HEINEKEN Africa Foundation will support a project to create awareness of the dangers of jaundice, one of the main killers.
While the mortality rate in under 5s has been steadily reducing, there has been no significant reduction in mortality rates among new born babies in the last 10 years, and there is a lot to do to meet the Millennium Development Goal 4* goal set by the UN.
The killers of newborn babies in Nigeria are birth asphyxia, neonatal infection, prematurity and neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice is often present in combination with the other conditions. Severe jaundice causes Bilirubin Encephalopathy (Kernicterus) which kills or causes chronic disability in babies, including problems with motor skills, hearing and learning difficulties.
While many home remedies are used to treat babies with jaundice, the real solution is medical treatment, including measuring the levels of jaundice, and appropriate treatment under phototherapy lamps. In severe cases, a blood transfusion is required, which is time consuming and dangerous for the baby.
The HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, with Nigerian Breweries and the Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation** in Lagos, will embark on a 12 month pilot project to create awareness about the dangers of jaundice. The project, Jaundice in Babies Awareness Campaign (JIBA), aims to improve public awareness of jaundice to ensure early screening and detection of the illness. Early detection will prevent the progression to severe Jaundice and so reduce disabilities and deaths.
The JIBA Campaign will also launch and promote the concept of the 3 Day Baby Check. All babies within their first 3 days of birth should get a full check. This check is to promote the early detection and ultimately treatment of any childhood illnesses and abnormalities.
Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation under the JIBA Campaign will provide free screening and treatment of jaundice to all babies born at home, private and public health institutions as well as by Traditional Birth Attendants. The free screening will begin from December 2011 and the campaign will also provide information about the dangers of neonatal jaundice through print and electronic media, fliers, posters and booklets.
*For background to the Millenium Development Goals, visit http://www.unicef.org/mdg/index_aboutthegoals.htm
**The Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation was set up by Dr Dosekun, CEO of the Foundation in honour of her daughter. During the opening ceremony Dr Dosekun thanked the HEINEKEN African foundation through Nigerian Breweries, represented by Dr. Chukwumah, Company Medical Adviser with Nigerian Brewreies, for their support and promised that the Foundation would make a mark in Health care services in Nigeria.
PASER, Nigeria
In October 2011 the Foundation agreed to support PharmAccess African Studies to Evaluate Resistance (PASER) in Nigeria. The funded project, run at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, is focused on HIV drug resistance monitoring in adults and children in Lagos, Nigeria.
With the support of massive international funding, already more than four million HIV patients in Africa receive life-saving antiretroviral treatment. This is an unprecedented success in medical history and represents a 100-fold increase as compared to the situation in Africa ten years ago. However, the massive use of drugs can introduce drug resistance, which eventually can make drugs ineffective.
Therefore, the next challenge in the fight against HIV/AIDS in developing countries is the spread of HIV drug resistance, the failure of the HIV virus to respond to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).
HIV drug resistance can significantly reduce treatment options for people living with HIV/AIDS, and may seriously threaten the long-term success of treatment scale-up efforts in Africa. Therefore it is of vital importance to implement systematic resistance surveillance systems, in order to increase our understanding of the emergence and spread of drug-resistant viruses, and to create the opportunity to adjust treatment guidelines in an early stage.
PASER is an ambitious and large-scale capacity building and research program. PASER aims to establish a network of clinical sites and laboratories in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to build capacity for the monitoring and surveillance of HIV drug resistance. The research outcomes of this 'early warning system' will provide unique information on HIV drug resistance patterns in Africa.
The PASER program consists of five integral components:
- HIV drug resistance monitoring
Studies to monitor the emergence of drug-resistant HIV over time in patients on first-line and second-line HAART ('acquired resistance'). - HIV drug resistance surveillance
Studies to evaluate the spread of drug-resistant HIV among newly infected persons ('transmitted resistance'). - Quality assurance laboratory network
A quality assurance scheme is established to ensure the accuracy and consistency of resistance testing undertaken by the participating laboratories. - Clinical observational database
For a coordinated collection and interpretation of data, a clinical observational database is set up and linked to international databases. - Training of health professionals
Medical and laboratory staff are being trained on quality HIV care and treatment, clinical research and resistance testing.
PASER is part of the overall LAASER program. LAASER is a partner in the global HIV ResNet network on HIV drug resistance, coordinated by the World Health Organization.
The Nigerian PASER project funded by the Heineken Africa Foundation aims to continue to monitor adult HIV patients in Lagos which started treatment in September 2008, and to start a similar monitoring project for children at the same clinic. PASER reference labs take part in an international HIVDR quality assurance system. Human capacity building takes place during implementation of the program. Results from the program will be shared with policy makers in Nigeria by way of annual reports and a workshop in the third year. In addition, scientific articles will be written and submitted to international journals and conferences.
Consultation of a PASER participant
PASER files
Monitoring of CRFs by Mrs Peggy van Leeuwen
Radiography Equipment to improve healthcare in Enugu
In November 2011 the Foundation agreed to fund a project to provide the Niger Foundation Hospital with computed radiography equipment. Partners in this project are Nigerian Breweries and the Niger Welfare Foundation.
Enugu and its surroundings have been facing major health issues over the past years, caused by the lack of an essential healthcare infrastructure and insufficient funding. Most importantly, there is serious deficiency of diagnostic equipment in the area. Patients with major illnesses often have to be referred to far away hospitals in large cities like Lagos (550 km), Abuja (500 km), and Ibadan (600 km), to have their situation properly diagnosed.
In Enugu, one of the health centres that attracts large numbers of people is the Niger Foundation Hospital. It is a non-profit organisation established in 1993 by the Niger Welfare Foundation.
Patients waiting to be checked
The project is meant to provide the Niger Foundation Hospital medical centre with computed radiography equipment (digitization of the x-ray department) that will enhance their capacity to diagnose and treat the most common ailments suffered by the local population. X-ray testing is one of the most commonly used techniques in the area to diagnose for instance tuberculosis and other chest diseases, and breast cancer (mammography).
Additionally, data generated by the new equipment, being in electronic format, can be sent to relevant specialists in distant locations and this will ensure quality assurance.
Finally, with the equipment it will be possible by telemedicine to access the services and expertise of specialists that are far away by location which is not possible at present.
Analysing the results
The overall objective is to improve the health situation of the local population of Enugu and its surrounding villages. Funding of the computed radiography equipment and training and educating of the three local radiography technicians will contribute to achieving this objective.
It is expected that the new equipment will be fully operational by the summer of 2012.
The radiography equipment
Upgrading Eziama Primary Health Centre, Nigeria
In November 2011 the Foundation agreed to fund the upgrading of the maternity section in the Eziama Primary Health Centre to provide better services during antenatal, prenatal and postnatal periods and to reduce complications arising from pregnancy as well as maternal and infant death rate.
In the entire city of Aba there are insufficient basic healthcare facilities, especially in Aba North Local Government Area (LGA) where the Eziama health centre is situated and where Nigerian Breweries has facilities too.
Currently on average 70 antenatal care visits and 18 deliveries per month are happening at the maternity section of the centre. Ultimately the project aims to improve the quality of care given to women during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum, to reduce complications arising from pregnancy, delivery and post-partum and to reduce maternal and infant death rates.
After the upgrading of the maternity section, the Aba North LGA will ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the project.
The project is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2012.
Eziama Health Centre
Patients waiting
Baby getting vaccinated by a nurse
Bed nets to control malaria in Rwanda
One of the first projects supported by the Heineken Africa Foundation was announced in August 2009: the production and distribution of bed nets in Rwanda. On behalf of the Heineken Africa Foundation, Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman/CEO of Heineken signed an agreement for the purchase and distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets to help control malaria infection by mosquitoes. This project will assist the country in achieving its target to reduce the malaria burden by increasing the availability and coverage of these bed nets. Pregnant women and children in the environment in which Heineken is operating will particularly benefit from this initiative.
The agreement between Heineken Africa Foundation and Utexrwa is signed.
From left to right: Ms. Corine Karema (Ministry of Health of Rwanda), Mr Raj Rajendran (Utexrwa), Sven Piederiet
(Bralirwa) and Jean-François van Boxmeer (Heineken).
Bed nets provide a good way of controlling malaria for a number of reasons. First of all, they are relatively cheap. At the same time, they are an effective way of protecting people against mosquito bites and the transmission of the parasite that causes malaria; research has shown that nets can reduce the mortality rate from malaria by approximately 20 per cent. Moreover, the use of bed nets is most effective when used in combination with other strategies, including information on how to avoid malaria, better water management and the removal of mosquito breeding grounds.
The agreement, which is financed by the Heineken Africa Foundation, was signed with Utexrwa (Usine des Textiles du Rwanda), a local textile company, which has the infrastructure and capacity to produce the insecticidal nets and complies with World Health organisation standards. New knitting machines will enable Utexrwa to use polyester thread from Asia and knit locally to make net fabric, impregnate and cut and sew them. The raw material used for insecticidal treatment of bed nets, Pyrethrum, is an organic plant that is locally grown in Rwanda. This also enhances local capacity building. Utexrwa is investigating opportunities for expansion of local packaging facilities and it is their aim to use biodegradable packaging material.
This production process provides work to approximately 750 employees. Utexrwa has been awarded for being the best employer (2008) and for ‘creator of employment’ (2009).
Objectives
The Heineken Africa Foundation will support Utexrwa for an investment in equipment for impregnation of insecticides
into the netting material and will purchase the first 140,000 bed nets over a period of three years.
Bayer has been asked to assist in supervising the impregnation process and seeing to the safety and well being of production staff. Bralirwa, Heineken’s operating company in Rwanda, will assist the Rwandese Ministry of Health in distributing the nets through Bralirwa’s logistics capacity. The nets will be handed out through existing health centres in the vicinity of the Heineken breweries in Kigali and Rubavu, as well as through prenatal and vaccination family visits by health advisors.
The project is running well and close to schedule, while quality of both production process and end product is focused on. Quarterly monitoring is implemented. The production of local bed nets as currently carried out in Kigali can be replicated elsewhere. Examples include the conversion of fabric factories, re-schooling employees in the garment industry in other sub Saharan countries and create economies of scale.
Utexrwa, Rwanda.Sewers at work in the mill.
Heineken Africa Foundation receives commendation
from Global Business Coalition
The Global Business Coalition (GBC) has honoured the Heineken Africa Foundation with the 2010 Business Excellence Award. This commendation was awarded for excellence in community investment.
According to GBC, the partnership among the Heineken Africa Foundation, Bayer Environmental Science (ES), the Rwandan Ministry of Health, BRALIRWA brewery and Rwandan textile manufacturer Utexrwa responded to a clear need for bed nets in Rwanda with a sustainable, locally-sourced solution.
Before the partnership began, all anti-malaria bed nets in Rwanda were produced in other countries. The partners focused on transferring technical knowledge to the only textile manufacturer in Rwanda, Utexrwa, so that the company could produce WHO-approved, long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets.
Through the Heineken Africa Foundation, Heineken brought more than 50 years of experience working in Rwanda, along with seed funding for the project, while Bayer ES contributed its knowledge of pesticide production and bed net treatment. Heineken subsidiary Bralirwa brewery also plays a central role in distributing the 140,000 bed nets produced at the Utexrwa factory.
Quality control of the bed nets is being undertaken by Bayer ES laboratories and an expert from the United Nations Industrial Development organisation (UNIDO) in Thailand.
Critical success factors
Fighting disease and creating jobs
Bed net production is highly labour intensive. And the places where nets are needed are often places with a need for
good-paying jobs. The current programme is eventually expected to generate up to 150 new jobs for Rwandans in the near
term. Following a plan to scale up production to 4.5 million nets per year, the enterprise could eventually employ
1,000 people.
Leveraging multiple corporate capabilities
This partnership is an extraordinary example of how companies can contribute their capabilities in complementary
ways. Through the Heineken Africa Foundation, Heineken contributed its deep knowledge of Rwandan business and
government and its beverage distribution networks - which will be used to distribute bed nets as they are produced.
Bayer ES meanwhile put its core competence in pesticide manufacturing and bed net treatment to use in order to build
local capacity.
For further information on GBC see also http://www.gbcimpact.org/
The Prenatal Equipment Project, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world. Women are vulnerable, because they are primary care-givers for the family. Many of them do not have access to basic health care during pregnancy or when giving birth, increasing the risk of maternal mortality. As a result, thousands of orphans suffer from the consequences. This could be substantially improved if the population had access to better healthcare and relevant treatment.
In collaboration with the Well Woman Clinic of the Melvine Edith Patricia Stuart Trust, this project provides an affordable one-stop health clinic for women, which should improve their general well-being, reduce the maternal and child mortality rate and improve the reproductive health of women.
The Clinic, which ensures a holistic preventive health care at affordable cost, works with collaborative partners to ensure efficient services and a focus on quality. The Clinic promotes women’s health in general and welcomes women from all social backgrounds to register for the Clinic’s programme, which include screening and on/off site referrals for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and health care consultancy. Programmes such as weight loss, early detection of cancers affecting reproductive health as well as diagnostic procedures for maternal/foetal health are an integral part of these preventive health care services.
The Well Woman Clinic administers the project through its existing Clinic. It employs staff to carry out the relevant functions and ensures proper monitoring and evaluation of the project. Reports at the end of the project provide a description of an ultrasound-screening and archiving programme, including data on referrals and statistics that can serve as an example for other clinics. Treatment recommendations can also be given. This project is expected to serve at least one thousand under-privileged women of child-bearing age between 18 and 45 in the greater Freetown area where the Clinic is located.
Objectives
With the support of the Heineken Africa Foundation, this project provides specific ultrasound equipment, designed for
gynaecology, maternal foetal imaging and obstetrics. The system consists of advanced features that enable computer aided
diagnosis to standardize imaging of the foetal heart and temporal image correlation. Automation helps make this system
relatively easy to use and maintain compared to other ultrasound systems. In addition, an archiving and communications
system is provided, including software to ensure that information from the ultrasound equipment can be stored. This gives
the Clinic two major advantages: it enables images to be acquired at the patient’s convenience and retrieved at a
later time by a qualified radiologist; and the equipment enables the Clinic to maintain an archive of patient data so that
comparisons can be made in the future with baseline images.
Training is an integral part of this project. Four doctors receive training from a qualified Sierra Leonean radiologist with at least 35 years experience in ultrasound services. This is complemented by training a qualified biomedical engineer with a background in medical physics on the use of the specific ultrasound equipment. The training is ongoing for one year and these trained professionals operate the equipment to ensure timely referrals for treatment and prepare adequate information for the reporting process.
It is hoped that by 2012 the project will expand to the provinces outside greater Freetown, so that the Western rural area will also benefit from the services of a mobile ultrasound unit for a much wider coverage in this area and much needed behavioural change.
Dr. George Bernard Fraser, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, chairs the project management committee. Dr Frazer was trained in Aberdeen, Scotland where he was Senior Registrar and Clinical Tutor at the Aberdeen Medical School. He has held various medical positions in Freetown and specialises in fertility management.
For further information about the Well Woman Clinic, see http://wellwomanclinic.org
The GE Voluson 730 Pro Ultrasound system
Demonstration Ultrasonography machine video
Wellington Ambulance & Equipment, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Studies of the World Health Organisation have demonstrated that a newborn in Sierra Leone has the lowest chance in the world of surviving until the age of five. In addition, one in eight women risk death during childbirth due to the lack of relevant care. This is one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. Some die on the way to hospital in taxis (if they can afford it), on motorbikes or on foot. Sometimes it takes hours to get to the nearest hospital. Non-governmental organisations consider this a human rights issue. Progress has been made in a number of regions and local health services have been strengthened, which holds a great promise for reducing the child mortality rate. Simple health care measures, including swift transportation to referral hospitals, vaccination, insecticide-treated bed nets and vitamin supplements, would prevent many of the deaths.
The Wellington community in Freetown is a densely populated area, in which also Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, member of the Heineken Group, is located, about six minutes drive away from the Wellington Community Health Care Centre. Swift and appropriate transportation of referred patients and early detection of medical conditions, in particular children and pregnant women in critical conditions, is almost absent in this area. Since it is located on the other side of Freetown, the closest referral hospital is about 10 kilometres away from the Health Centre at the Wellington municipality. Public transportation is not easily available not even for referred or urgent cases. The provision of an ambulance - that is suitable in this Africa setting - substantially helps reduce the mortality rate, in particular among those pregnant women and young children.
Nurses at the Wellington Health Centre take a well-deserved break.
Objective
This project aims at reducing the mortality rate due to delays as a result of unavailable safe and convenient transportation within the Wellington community. An ambulance has been acquired and other basic medical equipment will be purchased, including foetal heart monitoring equipment, sterilizers, stethoscopes and a sphygmomanometer. This project also includes the training of an ambulance driver, as well as ambulance nurses.
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The acquired ambulance.
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First Aid equipment included in the ambulance.
Click here for the press release on the deployment of the ambulance funded by the Heineken Africa Foundation
Sierra Leone farmers and family health, Sierra Leone
All over Sierra Leone there is a lack of sufficient basic health care facilities in rural districts in general and in the Gbonkolenken Chiefdom and Yele region in particular. More than 80% of the local labour force works in the agricultural sector, which consists mainly of small oil palm and sorghum plantations.
Palm oil factory set up by Lion Heart Foundation
The farmers and family health project, funded by the Heineken Africa Foundation in July 2011, is a partnership between the Lion Heart Foundation (LHF, http://www.lion-heart.nl) and Sierra Leone Breweries Ltd (SLBL) in the Yele region of Sierra Leone. To develop this region economically, the LHF has developed the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ programme. This programme introduces a new concept, aimed at intensive cooperation with the rural population and is linked to the development of economic activities and sustainable funding of the social services, including agriculture, healthcare, education and training on the job. Hence the LHF contributes to a solution by establishing sustainable alternative sources of income. In its turn, the local Heineken brewery SLBL has been involved in local sourcing of raw materials, including sorghum. This empowers the communities in which SLBL operates and secures a steady supply of raw materials. SLBL has been awarded the Millennium Development Goal Award in 2010 for this agricultural local sourcing programme.
Recent medical statistics of the Magbenteh Community Hospital in Makeni, another rural area, have shown that 26% of the surgeries performed successfully in 2009 were related to hernia and hydroceles (an accumulation of serous fluid in a body cavity). These ailments are highly invalidating and mostly work related. One out of ten operations performed consisted of wound treatment. Also infections and waterborne diseases, like malaria, are main reasons for hospital admission. Besides curative activities, it is important to make the local population aware of preventing this kind of pathology.
Tonkolili is one of the five poorest districts in Sierra Leone. The facilities that exist are mostly of a poor quality, both in terms of equipment and availability of medical supplies. Clinics are usually understaffed and under-qualified. LHF anticipates that the demand of good quality healthcare from the rural community surrounding Yele will soon exceed the maximum capacity of the Lion Heart Medical Centre in Yele (LHMC).
The Lion Heart Medical Centre in Yele
By the end of 2010 the Lion Heart Medical Clinic opened its doors to the general public as an outpatient medical facility. In 2012 the clinic will be upgraded into a hospital with inpatient capacity, a delivery room, an operating theatre and an increased number of trained staff.
Funds have been acquired for a number of activities, but the Heineken Africa Foundation will support the inpatient department with a 16-bed children’s ward, an 8-bed female ward, and 8-bed male ward and the badly needed hospital kitchen.
The clinic needs a facility for inpatients, a delivery room and an operating theatre.
ObjectivesThis project aims at improving local and rural healthcare with a focus on work-related injuries and diseases among farmers and farm workers. It will also provide health care to their families and dependents (decreasing mother and child mortality).
Hence, basic community healthcare will be improved in this rural area through prevention and decrease of (waterborne) diseases, through the prevention and treatment of work-related ailments like hernia’s and hydroceles, while mother- and child mortality will be decreased. In addition, medical staff will be trained and the awareness among the rural population regarding prevention of the above-mentioned diseases, ailments and mortality will be enhanced.
Celebration for the launch of the partnership between LHMC and SLBL
Community mobile clinic in Midvaal, South Africa
In South Africa, health care is provided by both the public sector and a smaller private sector. Mostly, basic primary health care is provided free by the state and highly specialised private health care services are available for those who can afford it. Yet the public sector is under-resourced and over-used. People from local communities are often unable to make the journey, in some cases even more than 10 miles, to established clinics.
In some areas this is resolved by providing health care through mobile clinics. However, in the Midvaal Municipal area the quality of these clinics does not meet the required standards. One of the mobile clinics servicing the area is broken, while most of the others are old and not suited to their purpose. Sometimes even privacy cannot be provided. HIV testing and youth consultations cannot be provided, nor are distribution of anti-retroviral medication carried out. The present old mobile clinic sees 660 persons per month in Midvaal. The 3 mobile units allocated to Midvaal local municipality together have to service 10 wards and see a total of 2000 patients per month.
Through the support of the Heineken Africa Foundation, a new mobile clinic is introduced to the Midvaal area, to replace an old, low-quality mobile. It will be staffed and provided with medication by the Sedibeng Health District. This mobile clinic is taken into designated areas once to three times a week. The new clinic will be fully fitted and equipped to provide general health and preventative services. It is expected to be used by around 1,250 patients a month, twice the number that the existing clinics can cope with. A route for the clinic will be to ensure that people have access to the services.
Objectives
This mobile clinic aims at reaching vulnerable groups and patients in the Midvaal district who do not have the resources
for transport to an established clinic — most of whom live in informal settlements more than 10 miles away from an
established clinic. The vehicle will be equipped to dispense general health services including prenatal care, family
planning, well-child services, youth care, chronic diseases treatment, acute primary care, as well as HIV testing, VCT
counselling and the distribution of anti-retroviral medication.
Sedibeng Brewery in Midvaal will take responsibility for maintenance of the clinic to ensure it remains fit for purpose and provides a reliable service. The Sedibeng Health District will ensure medication, staffing, petrol and routing. The Heineken Africa Foundation can grant the required funding for purchasing and equipping the mobile clinic, this tripartite partnership brings the financial, human and technical resources together. The mobile clinic will be operating as part of a larger governmental programme, serving a wide population in the region with various mobile health care clinics.
Providing health care through mobile clinics.
Transportation and health care in Olievenhoutbosch
The community of Olievenhoutbosch in South Africa has no local public transport and people have to walk long distances to make use of available health services. Access to health care is therefore very difficult. Medical treatment is provided at the local primary health care clinic, the in-patient Hospice Care in Pretoria, the Laudium Clinic (to receive antiretroviral treatment) and Kalafong Hospital.
Sometimes, parents and guardians do not have money to pay for transport. Community health care workers who visit and support patients have to walk as much as one hour to visit one patient. TB patients who need direct observed treatment support must be visited daily. It will make a huge difference to have a suitable vehicle to take staff to certain points of service delivery. Community health care workers carry out - on average - between 600 and 700 home visits per month. If they could be transported to specific service delivery points, the number of home visits could be substantially increased and services made more accessible to patients. Currently, a very old Nissan pickup truck is used to transport patients and staff. Maintenance is very expensive and it is a very unsafe and undignified way of transporting patients.
One of the recently adopted strategic goals of the King's Hope Development Foundation is the full integration of home based care and community wellness programmes in order to provide a continuum of palliative care from diagnosis to bereavement counselling for families. However, for the King's Hope Development Foundation, this would require additional staff that is highly skilled in palliative care.
The King's Hope Development Foundation fully depends on donations and subsidies for its operation. It renders services in an underserved impoverished community which is not able to contribute financially towards required health care services. The Government provides funding for only the most basic services.
Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng area, South Africa
Objective
The project aims at improving the capacity of King's Hope to provide the full spectrum of care to HIV and TB patients and specifically at improving palliative care.
The purchase of a vehicle with which groups can be taken to antiretroviral treatment will ensure continued and efficient access to treatment. Access to health services through transport support will be improved.
Some of the members of staff who provide care have minimal palliative care training; others have none. The aim is also to maximize the development of the existing community-based programmes and to guarantee the continuation of care.
There is a definite need for growth in service delivery and professionals for critical positions - like the role of a palliative care nurse - need to be appointed. Qualified staff and management need to be employed with salaries commensurate with the market in the NGO sector. Team members are passionate about the work and continue to serve, but they receive remuneration which is far below NGO market related remuneration.
The Heineken Africa Foundation will, as a start, support the hiring and training of two nurses and the purchase of the vehicle.
