Title: ICRC Hands Over its War Hospital in Lokichokio (1987 – 2006) to Kenyan Ministry of Health on 30 June 2006

Date and location: June 2006, archive footage 1989, 1995, 1999
Production: Louis Mouchet, Andrea Kunding
Length: 6'53 minutes
Source: ICRC – Access All
Reference: VF CR-F-00-921-A
Preview (RealMedia stream 56Kbs - 128kbs):
Newsfootage/lopiding-0606

For full details of the World feed, go to the EBU website and/or see below for timings and technical specification:

For broadcast tapes and information on footage: Virginie Miranda, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva,

This 5'53'' minutes item will be transmitted by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Thursday 29th June 2006 on the EVN News Exchange Special feed at 11h45 GMT.

SHOTLIST

00'00 1995 Southern Sudan, Nyamlell: Soldiers are waiting for the ICRC plane to evacuate war wounded.

00'06 Close-up of a fighter

00'08 ICRC nurse Karla checks the wounded

00'15 close-up of war wounded

00'18 wounded are being carried to the plane

00'33 Baby is being handed over to Karla on the plane

00'41 Sick woman with baby is seated

00'49 Pilot closes door of plane

00'54 Cockpit

01'00 Inflight, Karla checking on woman patient

01'07 Close up of face woman patient

01'13 Flight, shot over wing

01'18 Landing in Lokichokio (northern Kenya)

01'25 ICRC Landcruiser, stretcher is being taken out

0132 Patients in the plane detached

01'40 Offloading patients from plane

01'52 Karla holding the baby, woman patient gets off the plane

02'08 Convoy is leaving Lokichockio Airport to Lopiding Hospital

02'20 Convoy arrives at Lopiding Hospital

02'31 Offloading patient

02'40 first examination by ICRC doctors at Lopiding Hospital

02'50 Close up on wound

02'55 War wounded and traumatised man being taken care of by ICRC nurse Joan

03'29 Geneva, June 2006: Christoph Harnisch, ICRC General Delegate for Africa
"We could in fact make different conflict situations in the world benefit from the experiences we have made in Lopiding with war wounded. And I think the care for war wounded worldwide has mostly benefited from the lessons we learnt."

03'46 Operating Theatre Lopiding Hospital

04'06 Daniel Bol Gatluak, Sudanese ICRC Field Officer Febuary 2006

"It is some times miracle, what the surgeons – I mean – help that they do. There are some cases that literally you could not believe that can survive. But when they are brought into the Lopiding Hospital it is like a miracle, you could not believe at all. I could imagine if these couldn't be brought here, I mean there would have been no life saving."

04'32 1989: Tents of Lopiding Hospital

04'52 2006: Wide shots Lopiding Hospital

04'58 Pan on hospital yard

05'08 various shots of hospital life

05'26 Doctor's visit (wide shot, holding x-ray)

05'33 1999: Lopiding Orthopaedic workshop several shots

05'51 Fitting protheses ortho workshop Lopiding

06'01 Ortho-patients dancing

06'09 Christoph Harnisch, ICRC General Delegate Africa

"We very much hope in giving this hospital now to the Kenyan authorities and in trying to continue our work in southern Sudan, we will help construct and build some beginning of medical services in southern Sudan."

06'53 End


South Sudan - The ICRC Adapts to Changing Needs

With the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement CPA between the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement SPLM in January 2005, a government elected in Southern Sudan and the reconstruction of infrastructure started, the initial role of Lopiding Hospital in treating war wounded is no longer required. Lopiding hospital will be handed over to the Kenyan Ministry of Health on 30 June, 2006.

In southern Sudan, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continues its support to the Juba Teaching Hospital, providing assistance to surgical, medical and paediatric services, and training of staff, including student nurses and medical assistants. Remaining committed to the ongoing care to physically disabled, the ICRC is constructing a physical rehabilitation centre in Juba, replacing the orthopaedic workshop of Lopiding.

Sudan, for the last 25 years, has been affected by armed conflict causing much suffering to its population. Present since 1978, the ICRC has provided emergency assistance to the victims of the conflict in southern Sudan since 1984. Under the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, the ICRC's mandate is to ensure protection and assistance to the victims of conflict.


The ICRC Lopiding Hospital 1987 - 2006

Due to the large numbers of war wounded, their long travelling distance to reach a medical facility and insufficient facilities to treat wounded in southern Sudan, the ICRC was prompted to provide surgical care and expertise for the wounded. Lopiding Hospital, placed in one of Kenya's most underdeveloped areas close to the border of Sudan, opened in June 1987. The war wounded were taken to Lopiding Hospital through an air medical evacuation system, supported by humanitarian actors. Approximately 95% of the Sudanese patients admitted arrived to the hospital by air. This action may very well be the largest and longest cross-border, non-military air medical evacuation action in history.

Lopiding Hospital, initially a 40-bed surgical facility in tents, gradually grew and became the largest ICRC facility of its kind in the world, reaching a bed capacity of 560 and at peak times catering for over 700 patients. By the end of 2005, 37'558 patients had been admitted and over 60'000 surgical interventions performed in the hospital.

Currently the hospital consists 2 operation theatres, 9 patient wards; blood bank and laboratory; x-ray, physiotherapy and medical engineering departments; pharmacy; kitchen; laundry; tailoring; cleaning and maintenance departments; as well as staff quarters.

Addressing the prevailing medical pathologies specific to the local Turkana population, the ICRC in July 1999 opened a medical emergency ward. This 23-bed ward is staffed by two Kenyan doctors and additional Kenyan nurses were employed.

In addressing the specific needs of some of the victims of war, in 1992 the ICRC opened a prosthetics and orthotics workshop inside the hospital grounds to ensure the provision of prostheses for amputees, orthoses for those with disabilities such as polio and physiotherapy treatments. The ICRC directly managed the orthopaedic workshop and qualified Kenyan technicians and physiotherapists ensured the services.

The approximately 200 Kenyan and Sudanese staff permanently employed in Lopiding Hospital, has been trained to care for and manage war wounded and other surgical emergencies according to the ICRC principles using appropriate techniques and technology. 340 Kenyan nurse assistants have received training.
Read also feature story : "Lopiding hospital: adapting to changing needs in southern Sudan"