We are often asked for our current priority needs, with estimated costs.

Here is the current list.

FOSC Ward Staff       *Priority Need*

£50,000   / ($   70,000) is needed each year just to secure the existing over-stretched team of 30.

£100,000 / ($ 140,000) is needed each year to grow the team to meet the demand for healthcare. 

                      The £ and $ amounts can swing wildly because of volatility of the currencies so

                                        re-assesments can be made at the time of donations.

                                                                                       Existing              Needed

                         Paediatric nurses                                          13                      25

                         Clinical Officers                                              -                        3

                         Patient Attendants (nurse auxilliaries)            10                      15                                                         Homecraft workers/play attendants                 5                        7                                                            Teacher                                                       1                        1                                                        Handyman/maintenance                                 1                        1                                                                                                                          -----                  ------                                                                                                                           30                       52                                                                                                                        ===                  ===

Drugs

• Cardiac clinic -                         £ 1,250/$1,750 per annum (mostly digoxin, captopril or enalapril, spironolactone)

• Neurology / epilepsy clinic - £ 1,525/$2,135 per annum (sodium valproate, carbamazepine)

• Sickle cell clinic -                     £    625/$875 per annum (hydroxyurea)

• Diabetes clinic -                      £    625/$875 per annum for insulin

• Neonatal follow up clinic – providing mostly iron and vitamins for our ex-prem babies -  £ 625/$875 per annum

• General and asthma clinic - £    315/$440 for steroid inhalers

• Inpatient drugs:                      £1,525/$2,135 for amoxicillin or augmentin suspension, IV cloxacillin, ciprofloxacin suspension.

• Oxygen cylinders:                   £ 625/$875 per annum to fill. (we use these to transport patients)

• Lactogen (for orphaned babies): £1,250/$1750 per annum

• HIV positive children - Fluconazole suspension £ 625/$875 per annum

Equipment needs

Blood sugar monitors and sticks. Many children who are ill have a low blood sugar and it is important to test it in an emergency. Monitors (20) and sticks for a year estimated at £1,785 ($2,500).

• Good quality blood pressure / saturation monitors (mobile, on stands). Each costs £1,425 ($2,000) for a reasonable quality one. We need another 3 for the neonatal unit to cover all our wards.
• Oxygen concentrators. We have no ‘piped gases’ – rather we get oxygen from machines which extract it from the air. Several are getting old and are in need of repair or replacement. We need 5 including shippage and a basic new one costs about £2,142 ($3,000) including the shipping etc.  A portable one that will reduce our need for cylinders costs £2,360 ($3,300). We could really do with 2 portable ones.
• Suction machines. We need 10 manual / foot pump ones. Each costs about £145 ($200)
• Vital Signs Monitors          £1,950 ($2,750) each
• Admission stationary        £ 1,075 ($1,500) per annum
• Equipment that is being disposed of in the UK or elsewhere, but we will gladly use:

• Drip stands

• Metal trolleys

• Ultrasound machines (but please contact us first!)

• Patient trolleys

• Wheelchairs

• IV cannulas – 22 or 24 g

• Intraosseous needles

• Phototherapy machines

Maintenance

This is extremely difficult to budget for as reliable engineers are scarce. However, we could spend £3,600 ($5,000) a year on this extremely easily should we find a suitable partner.

Training

Although not so easy for donors to appreciate immediately, this is an important need and is a very sustainable way of improving healthcare. 

£1,425/$2000 pa for 3 years will train a specialist clinical officer in paediatric medicine.         

£5,000/$7500 over 2 years will train a specialist nurse in children’s medicine to degree level.