PHU Refurbishment

Peripheral Health Units - PHUs - are the equivalent of our UK GP surgeries, but at a very basic level, based in villages throughout the district.  These are where all women receive their perinatal care, and in most cases give birth.

There are currently around 69 PHUs throughout Kambia district.  Some are better than others in terms of structure, facilities, equipment and staffing levels.

We have so far refurbished 7 PHUs.  Refurbishment costs vary depending upon the state of the PHU, we have had to rebuild from scratch in some cases, and in others it has just been a case of replacing the roof to keep the rains out.  With all PHUs that we refurbish, we do so in partnership with the local community, who contribute 20% towards the project - either in labour, materials or money, so they share ownership going forward.

Refurbishment costs, to include the main building and the staff quarters, average between £3,000 - £6,000 depending on the state of the structure.  

The most basic PHU is referred to as an MCHA post – an MCHA is a Maternal & Child Health Assistant and is the most basic level of health personnel.  He or she will have completed a basic training programme and are often poorly qualified (something that our scholarship program seeks to change).   The building they work in is usually very basic in terms of infrastructure and facilities. .At the top of the scale, you would have a PHU with better staff, often with a Community Health Officer (CHO), a Community Midwife and an MCHA, plus more medical equipment and in a better structural condition.

Our refurbishment programme tries to repair, or in some cases rebuild, these PHUs, the ongoing costs of salaries and drug supply are met by the Ministry of Health but they lack the funds to maintain the buildings.

The rainy season in Kambia is from May to October and takes its toll on all buildings.  In most cases PHUs are made from mud bricks with corrugated iron roofs.  If the corrugated iron deteriorates, the wooden ceiling panels become damp and rotten, letting the rain in. 

Below are some before and after pictures, and videos, taken of Meni Curve PHU, in the Magbema Chiefdom.