STORIES INSIDE:

CHITUNGWIZA HOSPITAL TAKES CUSTOMER CARE TO THE FORE

ST LUKES HIGH SCHOOL IN EYE-OPENER

TOUR OF CCH

CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

CCH weekly newsletter is a publication of the Chitungwiza Central Hospital Chief Executive Office and Public Relations Office designed to highlight hospital news and upcoming events.

VOL 19 ISSUE 4 16 AUGUST 2019

2

16 AUGUST 2019 VOL 19 ISSUE 4

By Martha Kaunda-PR Intern

Masscom Student-Harare Poly

Chitungwiza Central Hospital (CCH) recently invested into a critical skills value for its staff that they gave vital training in Customer Care. The hospital held a workshop for its staff members which ran from July 9 to 11 where they were couched on such customer care skills such as being receptive, friendly and helpful to pa-tients and other visitors. A total number of 100 staff members including professionals and non-professionals attended the workshop which was facilitated by Mr Rusere from Renew It Trust. The Public Relations Department of the hospital organised the workshop in response to the apparent need for such skills shown by com-munication that reached the PR office indicating a lack of customer care and general etiquette among staff at the hospital. The purpose and roadmap for the work-shop was well articulated by the institution’s Public Relations Officer Audrey Tasaranarwo in her opening remarks. She stressed the need for staffers to treat patients well and with compassion in order to build and maintain a good image of the hospital. She went through the hospital patient charter and explained what it meant to the participants. The PRO invited the participants to con-tribute and participate freely during the training

saying all suggestions and opinions were im-portant and welcome for the training. During the customer care training Mr Rusere reiterated that the staff members should be clear about the purpose of their presence at the hospital adding that money, in the form of salaries, would come as a reward. “When patients and their loved ones come to health care facilities they are looking for care and to be treated well. This is what health care staff members need to keep in mind when dealing with patients. If hospital staff remember this important fact, they are much more likely to treat patients with compassion and care”, said Mr Rusere. “We are here to serve the patient and money will only come as a reward. You must bear it in your minds that customers go where they are wanted and appreciated”, he added. He also said the primary goal of customer ser-vice communication was to understand the customer, hence members of the staff should show caring and concern when interacting with patients. The hospital CEO Dr Enock Mayida gave his closing remarks on the last day and thanked Mrs Tasaranarwo for organising such an educative workshop. Dr Mayida said the customer, who in this instance is the patient, is very important and hence the need for hospital staff to im-prove customer care satisfaction. “Let us have teachable hearts and changeable attitudes and instil a culture of serving the patient,” Dr. Mayida said. “Know what you are here for and let’s care for the pa-tient. Let is not take issues from home and bring them to the workplace.” Everyone found the workshop discus-sions quite robust and insightful and it was hoped that training would assist the staff and to execute their mandate.

CHITUNGWIZA HOSPITAL TAKES CUSTOMER CARE TO THE FORE

Editor —Audrey Tasaranarwo Associate Editors — N Chipembere, M Kaunda & P Chikume Photographer —Terrence Musango Design and Layout — Audrey Tasaranarwo

Above photo: Mr Rusere the facilitator presenting during the customer care training Cover photos: St Lukes Jemedza students & Group photo of CCH staff who attended the customer care training workshop

3

16 AUGUST 2019 VOL 19 ISSUE 4

By Audrey Tasaranarwo & Priscilla Chikume ST LUKES JEMEDZA High School pupils had a rare op-

portunity to familiarize themselves with the health deliv-

ery system when they visited Chitungwiza Central Hospi-

tal on an educational tour last week, June 27.

Besides familiarising themselves with the hospi-

tal environment, the students also got an opportunity to

make the trip a part of their

career guidance.

The tour was for the

school’s Form 4 science

pupils who are due to sit for

their final exams end of this

year. It was organized by the

school administration and

teachers.

“I would like to

sincerely thank the CCH

Public Relations Officer and

the hospital administration

for allowing our pupils to

come and learn more about

X-rays and other medical technology. The education you

have imparted to them will go a long way and will help

when they write their final exams. In future we will do

such educational tours every term,” said Mr Emmanuel

Matonje the science teacher at St Lukes Jemedza High

School.

He added that the purpose of their visit was to

learn about the Renal Unit and other departments such as

the Radiology, laboratory and school of nursing. They

wanted students to see how the machines in those depart-

ments work i.e. the haemodialysis machine and the X-ray

machine, Computerized Tomography (CT) scans and ul-

trasound scans in that department.

When the school arrived they were received by

Mrs A Tasaranarwo the hospital’s public relations officer

who took the students around the reception area, the casu-

alty department and the out patients department. She ex-

plained the admission process and what happens when

patients arrive at the hospital seeking medical care.

Mrs Tasaranarwo then took the students to the

renal unit where they were welcomed by the Sister in

Charge of the unit, Ms Patricia Mugabe who handed them

over to Sr. Patricia Zenda.

In the renal unit Sr Zenda gave a brief lecture on

the anatomy and physiology of the kidney, explaining

basic issues of how the structure of the kidney is related to

its functions. She went on to talk about the causes of the

kidney diseases and the subsequent medical intervention. “People who are admitted in here are those with a renal failure. These people needs fresh air and a clean en-

vironment than any other patients due to their condi-tion,” explained sister Zenda. “A person has two kidneys and they are very important. It is also possible that someone can live with one kid-ney. A serious damage to kidneys is very dangerous and it causes death. Kidneys are important because they are responsible for regulating blood. Kidneys also assist in the formation or production of red blood cells,” added sister Zenda.

St Lukes stu-dents were also given an insight of how to keep safe their kidneys from injuries and damages and how to keep their kidneys healthy. The pupils were told that they should eat healthy foods including fruits and to cut back on salts and not to add too much salts on whatever food they eat. They were also encouraged to be more active and not to drink beer as it causes

damages to kidneys. After explaining functions and importance of kidneys to the students, sister Zenda went on to show the students how to use haemodylasis machines, and an artificial kidney amongst other things. Opposite the Renal Unit is the Sally Mugabe Kidney transplant unit, a department were kidney trans-plant is done, Sister Zenda was also in charge of ex-plaining to students about the Transplant Unit. “This department is different from other de-partments and other wards because it needs special at-tention. The department has its own kitchen and toilets. This is mainly done because we would like to maintain a high standard of cleanliness due to the immune system of the one who receives a kidney. Usually a person who receives a kidney is prone to infections therefore these patients are not safe if they are mixed with other pa-tience. They also require a very good air ventilation.” said sister Zenda.

From the Renal unit they went to the radiology

department which is one of the most decorated depart-

ments at the hospital with state of the art equipment.

This department is one of the departments where the

Joint Venture Partnership (JVP) was successfully imple-

mented. The management took on board the Baines Im-

aging Group to make sure the department continues to

offer quality services to patients. The radiology depart-

ment is one of the diagnostic departments at the institu-

tion. They help in the management of patients by

establishing the correct diagnosis through X-rays, ultra-

sound scan and computerized tomography (CT scan).

Continued to page 5

ST LUKES JEMEDZA HIGH SCHOOL IN EYE-OPENER TOUR OF CCH

4

16 AUGUST 2019 VOL 19 ISSUE 4

ST LUKES JEMEDZA HIGH SCHOOL TOUR IN PICTURES

St Lukes pupils posing for a photo at the hospital’s main

At the reception area

Pupils in the demonstration room

RGN Zenda taking the pupils round the kidney transplant unit

CCH PRO Audry Tasaranarwo in red with the group in the demonstration room

Kodak moment at the entrance of the Kidney Transplant Unit

5

16 AUGUST 2019 VOL 19 ISSUE 4

Staff in the X-ray department explained how the machines

work when taking X-ray, CT scan and Ultra Sound Scan

(USS) processes. The students were also lectured on issues

of radiation and how it is applied in X-ray and scanning

procedure. They were also taught on the dangers of radia-

tion exposure, including cancer and also how protection is

achieved through the way the walls are structured plas-

tered with lead-lined walls for C-T scan and x-ray.

The ultrasound scan room has normal plastering

because there is no danger of radiation. It was explained

that for ultrasound scanning there is no need for bone

scanning as required by other scans the reason being that it

requires only body tissue to detect sound and the scan is

mostly done on pregnant women for the purposes of deter-

mining the condition of the baby.

Rutendo Mubaiwa one of the students said, “This

educational tour has helped me so much in that I have

learnt that during the scanning one has to be in the control

room as to be protected from radiation and also the patient

has to have no metallic clothing such a belts or metal but-

tons. It is the reason why they are dressed in only hospital

gowns during the procedure.”

From the Radiology department the group pro-

ceeded to School of Nursing where they were met by the

Principal Nursing Officer Mrs Edith Chinhiwu who gave

the students a hearty welcome.

She highlighted requirements for one to train as a

nurse and told the students about the training programs run

by the school of nursing.

“Chitungwiza School of Nursing runs three programs i.e.

Registered General Nurses (RGN), State Certified Mid-

wives and Clinical Officers.

RGN training runs for 3 years, Midwifery pro-

gram runs for one year and Clinical Officers training pro-

gram for two years. The midwifery program requires one

to have basic registered general nurse’s training. The Clin-

ical Nurses program requirements are a post basic training

apart from RGN training.

“For one to be enrolled for nurse training one

should have 5 O Level subjects achieved in one sitting.

English, Mathematics and Science are compulsory.”

The Principal Tutor took students around, show-

ing them the School of Nursing library, demonstration

rooms and classrooms. They had the opportunity of inter-

acting with student nurses in their classrooms.

One of the students Simbarashe Magadzire said,

“I have learnt functions of the kidney, causes of kidney

diseases and also how the dialysis machine works. The

renal unit is very clean with state of the art equipment,”

Simbarashe said, adding that he aspired to be a medical

doctor.

Another student Panashe Kativhu said, “We

have been taught quite a lot in terms of science especial-

ly the kidney functions and diseases. We have learnt

through seeing and hearing. Kidneys were difficult for

me to understand but now I have understood because I

have seen.

This has motivated me to study medicine.”

ST LUKES JEMEDZA HIGH SCHOOL IN EYE-OPENER TOUR OF CCH

CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL VISITING TIMES ALL WARDS INCLUDING MARTENITY WARDS MORNING : 0600-0700 AFTERNOON : 1300-1400 EVENING : 1800-1900 INTENSIVE CARE UNIT MORNING : 1100-1200 EVENING : 1800 -1900 CHILDREN’S WARD MORNING : 0600-0700 EVENING : 1800-1900 THERE IS NO VISITING TIME BETWEEN 1300-1400HRS IN CHILDRENS’ WARDS. WE NOW ALLOW 3 VISITORS PER PATIENT

6

16 AUGUST 2019 VOL 19 ISSUE 4

CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL

1. STATUS

We are a Government Hospital providing a Five Star Healthcare service for the benefit

of the socially disadvantaged.

2. FEES

Government rates: Consultation - $10

Procedures - Approved Government rates.

3. COMPLAINTS HANDLING

Open Door Policy:-

- CCH Management awaits to assist you NOW.

- Bring your complaints forward without any fear.

- Don't be intimidated by any member of staff.

Contact:-

Public Relations Officer:- Mrs. A Tasaranarwo

Mobile: - 0774 120 811

Assistant Public Relations Officer:- Ms N R Chipembere

Mobile:- 0772 707 912

Landlines: - (0270) 31843 / 31138 / 38150

The first hospital to be ISO certified in Zimbabwe on the 28th of March 2008.

Visit our website: www.cch.org.zw

Email : pr@cch.org.zw