After living in Kampala for a few weeks and visiting several hospitals, I’ve begun to understand how things operate differently here in the hospitals compared to the Netherlands. This has been a valuable experience for me. Along with a colleague from Unifix Care, we’ve conducted five workshops, addressing common misconceptions about the 4-bucket system, including the correct order of the buckets, how long instruments should remain in each bucket, and the appropriate concentration of the fluids. At the end of each session, we provide a practical component where participants can practice with the materials.
In addition to this, I present and explain the website I developed, which features a video produced in collaboration with one of the hospitals as a resource. Engaging with the biomedical engineers and nurses responsible for cleaning and sterilization has been particularly interesting, as it has allowed us to exchange valuable information and knowledge.
I’m also pleased to see that the poster I created has been well-received, and it’s already being displayed in many areas throughout the hospitals. This is a significant finding for my research on the most effective dissemination methods for sharing information about the 4-bucket system for cleaning and disinfecting stainless steel surgical instruments.
In my final week in Uganda, I will return to the hospitals to interview medical staff about the implementation of the system and the improvements that have been made!
UPDATE I: Improving cleaning and disinfection of surgical instruments
