title: [Evaluation of primary health care activities at the Albert Schweitzer hospital in Lambarene, Gabon].
abstract: In 1999 the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambrene, Gabon set up a community health care service that provides immunization campaigns and mother/child health care and manages 9 village health care centers in a district with a population of approximately 64000 inhabitants. An evaluation conducted in April 2006 showed that collection of a consultation charge (15 euros) could cover the basic costs of operating these centers and purchasing necessary medicines. Three of the four centers evaluated demonstrated good quality indicators including properly kept records, posting of information bulletins for patients, appropriate referrals, and good relations with village authorities. At the center that performed poorly, the nurse apparently received no pay or lodging. Analysis of data about pediatric activity showed that diagnosis of diarrhea, malnutrition and anemia has fallen while hospitalization for tuberculosis and urinary schistomiasis is now being recorded. At the same time, village health centers are increasingly concerned with problems related to management and prevention of AIDS, malaria and urinary schistomiasis. This service shows that with good supervision it is possible to improve the quality of primary health care with partial but adequate recovery of costs and that basic health care workers are able to provide overall management for complicated patients, facilitate the work of reference hospital, and report new health problems.
authors.affiliation: l'Hópital Albert Schweitzer de Lambaréné, Gabon. maddiallo2003@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ninteretse
mesh_terms: D005681:Gabon; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*