4 September 2024, Lahj, Yemen – Al Ghaydah General Hospital now has a quality team in place, which has led to notable improvements in hospital operations, especially in the areas of hygiene, disinfection and sterilization.
The 100-bed hospital opened in 1979 and caters to a catchment area of about 500 000 people. In 2023, it took a significant step towards enhancing health care quality and safety by creating a dedicated quality team. This team works with a quality committee led by the hospital director.
Enhancements led by the quality team have not only elevated the safety and cleanliness of the hospital environment but have also contributed to an increased demand for services. This reflects the community’s growing trust in the facility’s capabilities.
In addition, the hospital has embraced self-financing of continuous professional education programmes for its staff, to uphold high standards of care – and keep improving on these.
A key focus for the hospital has been the fight against antimicrobial resistance, an issue of global concern. Through targeted culture examinations for all patients in intensive care, the hospital has personalized its approach to antibiotic treatment. In this way, it aims to effectively manage infections while conserving patient immunity and curtailing the spread of resistance. This initiative is part of the hospital’s broader commitment to enhance antibiotic stewardship and reduce the occurrence of resistant infections.
Moreover, Al Ghaydah General Hospital has optimized its waste management processes, adding an incinerator for efficient waste disposal. It has implemented the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist, as well as rigorous management of patient medical records. And it has introduced a triage policy in the emergency department, exemplifying the hospital’s dedication to efficient patient flow and prioritization based on clinical urgency.
By making these changes and aligning operations with WHO-recommended practices, Al Ghaydah General Hospital underscores its unwavering commitment to health care quality and patient safety.
WHO supports quality of care capacity-building in this hospital as part of the Emergency Human Capital Project implemented in partnership with the World Bank.
