Normal saline, dextrose and dextrose saline are prepared locally and sterilised by electrical autoclaves which occasionally fail. Blood haematocrit investigations are performed on all patients prior to surgery and testing for HIV and sickle-cell anaemia is performed on demand. Patients for elective surgery are required to supply one unit of blood or more from family members in advance. An autotransfusion service could be introduced as suction, glass bottles and citrate are available. There is a wide selection of endotracheal tubes which are washed and re-used until the cuffs malfunction.
Syringes are in plentiful supply, being refilled with the same drugs and re-used with new needles.
The automated blood pressure machines no longer work and manual sphygmomanometers are currently used. In the two main operating theatres an average of 75 procedures were performed each month during my visit. Elective surgery included a wide variety of major procedures, including craniotomy and thoracotomy. Emergency surgery included caesarean sections, eclampsia being a common indication and surgery for gunshot wounds, machete injuries, burns, road accidents and abdominal injuries. In the minor operating room about 100 procedures per month were performed.