Chemotherapy supply chain management, safe-handling and disposal in Ethiopia: the case of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital.

Optimal chemotherapy management is substandard in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify major gaps to design interventional strategies for improved chemotherapy management at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. This study was conducted using an observational checklist, open-ended questions, record review, and key informant interviews of department heads and focal persons at TASH. Findings were categorized into specific themes that developed. Chemotherapy represented 60.2% of the hospital medication budget. Drug utilization was quantified via monthly consumption documentation and forecasting. However, unreliable data resulted in frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of chemotherapy with only 67.8% availability. Thirteen healthcare personnel (9 nurses, 2 pharmacists and 2 hospital cleaners) were interviewed: all clinical staff but neither of hospital cleaners believed that they were at risk of hazardous agents. Challenges identified included inadequate and frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of personal protective equipment, lack of standardized guidelines for chemotherapy handling, admixture, and disposal, lack of designated preparation rooms, and lack of training. All nine nurses handled chemotherapy admixtures despite only two nurses previously receiving in-service training. Most of the participants had never witnessed the disposal of anticancer drugs. Prompted by the results of this study, a dialogue was initiated among members of TASH, the American Cancer Society and the University of North Carolina to implement action-oriented projects to address the gaps identified at TASH. These gaps directly and indirectly affect care and treatment outcomes of patients at a large cancer center. Collaborations with well-resourced centers are potential models for improving chemotherapy management.

Limitations in cataract surgical services for children in Ethiopia: a nationwide survey of pediatric cataract surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral cataract is a significant cause of blindness in children in Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify the resources available for cataract surgery in children, and to assess current surgical practices, surgical output and factors affecting the outcome of surgery in Ethiopia. METHODS: A Google Forms mobile phone questionnaire was emailed to nine ophthalmologists known to perform cataract surgery in young children (0-5 years). RESULTS: All nine responded. All but one had received either 12- or 3-5-month's training in pediatric ophthalmology with hands-on surgical training. The other surgeon had received informal training from an experienced colleague and visiting ophthalmologists. The surgeons were based in seven health facilities: five in the capital (Addis Ababa) and eight in six public referral hospitals and one private center. Over 12 months (2017-2018) 508 children (592 eyes) aged 0-18 years (most < 15 years) were operated by these surgeons. 84 (17%) had bilateral cataract, and 424 (83%) had unilateral cataract mainly following trauma. A mean of 66 (range 18-145) eyes were operated per surgeon. Seventy-one additional children aged > 5 years were operated by other surgeons. There were substantially fewer surgeons per million population (nine for 115 million population) than recommended by the World Health Organization and they were unevenly distributed across the country. Methylcellulose and rigid intraocular lenses were generally available but less than 50% of facilities had a sharp vitrectomy cutter and cohesive viscoelastic. Mean travel time outside Addis Ababa to a facility offering pediatric cataract surgery was 10 h. CONCLUSION: Despite the high number of cases per surgeon, the output for bilateral cataracts was far lower than required. More well-equipped pediatric ophthalmology teams are urgently required, with deployment to under-served areas.